12/23/2024
This past weekend, we gathered to celebrate the holiday season, the milestone of another year, and, importantly, a legacy of 50 years of service, care, and innovation at The Centers for Kidney Care. This golden anniversary is a testament to the lives we have touched, the challenges we have overcome, and the legacy we continue to build together. Today, we want to share a few words from The Centers for Kidney Care President, Dr. Corey D. Ball.
Our story began 50 years ago, in 1974, when Dr. Thomas Lowery became the first nephrologist in the Tyler area. Shortly thereafter, Dr. James R. Cotton joined the practice in 1978, starting a group practice known as Tyler Nephrology Associates, PA. That same year, the first chronic dialysis unit in the area opened Watson Wise Dialysis, which still serves our patients today. The following decades saw continued growth and innovation with additional dialysis units, expansion into home therapies, and the addition of over 20 physicians and advanced practitioners, including the merger and joining of practices with Dr. Aide Onime. Today, we partner with three of the top dialysis companies in the nation at 17 outpatient dialysis units and eight home therapy units across East Texas, Northeast Texas, and Southeast Oklahoma. We provide patient care in four acute/inpatient dialysis units, inpatient services at hospitals in Tyler and Paris, and additional inpatient telehealth services in eight hospitals in the East Texas Region.
We have expanded our clinic outreach to five additional satellite clinics in East Texas, Northeast Texas, and Southeast Oklahoma, including opening a second full-time clinic in Paris, Texas. These expansions have allowed us to bring specialized kidney care closer to home for our patients and their families. Recognizing our expanding service area, growing team, and evolving vision, we rebranded in 2017 from Tyler Nephrology Associates to The Centers for Kidney Care.
Over the last 50 years, we have dealt with the ever-changing healthcare landscape, healthcare pandemic(s), and natural disasters that displaced patients from other states into our area. Each time, our team rose to the occasion, providing ongoing care during these times of uncertainty. Across these 50 years, the numbers are a testament to our work; we have cared for over 30,500 new patients with over 1 million patient encounters and celebrate the collective employee experience in our practice, which totals an incredible 539 years of service to our medical practice and patients. But beyond the numbers and milestones are the other moments that make our practice unique. Over the last 50 years, we have had some unforgettable experiences. Each story and every moment has added to the rich tapestry of this practice and reminds us of the humanity at the heart of our work. What makes this anniversary meaningful is that we have achieved all this together. From the pioneering leadership of our founders and the culture they created to the tireless work of our physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical assistants, and clinic support teams, to the families who support us, and to the patients who place their trust in us, every person has played a role in shaping who we are today.
To our patients, thank you for entrusting us with your care. We recognize we are often with you and your families at some of the most challenging times of your healthcare journeys. Your care is our passion; your resilience is our inspiration. Thank you for allowing us to walk alongside you on your journey. To our team, from the front office to the billing and all those in between, you are the heart of this practice and its backbone. Your expertise, compassion, and dedication have been essential to these 50 years of success.
Now, as we celebrate our past, we look toward the future. The years to come will inevitably bring new challenges, but they will also bring new opportunities to innovate, grow, and continue to make a difference in the lives of our patients. Together, let us raise the bar of excellence, push the boundaries of nephrology, continue to improve access to care, and build on the foundation laid so many years ago. So, let us reflect on all we have accomplished and honor the legacy we have built together. Here is to the past 50 years, the present moment, and the bright future ahead. As we end 2024, we want to thank everyone who has made this milestone possible.
The physicians and employees at The Centers for Kidney Care wish you all a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
