Southwest Kidney Institute has indicated a strong interest in opening a dialysis center in Fountain Hills, and a final decision regarding construction of a facility is expected sometime in March.

Jim Judge has chaired a committee working with the center for about a year. He said some issues that delayed a decision have recently been resolved, particularly one related to Medicare.

Southwest Kidney Institute has also been talking with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation to determine its interest in using a Fountain Hills facility. There has thus far been no answer to the question, according to Judge.

Fort McDowell use would be a determining factor in the size of a Fountain Hills center.

Judge said the committee will be meeting with the Southwest Kidney Institute representatives in early March and at that time they hope to have a decision regarding a Fountain Hills site and what assistance might be needed from the town.

According to Judge, a typical dialysis patient visits a center three times a week for four hours each visit. He said there is travel time involved and in some cases the patients need a ride.

“One woman working with our committee is a dialysis patient and also has Parkinson’s,” Judge said. “She needs to rely on friends to give her a ride to the center.”

The nearest dialysis center to Fountain Hills is about 13 miles away in Scottsdale.

Judge said an assessment of the area estimates 100 people within the Fountain Hills, Verdes, Cave Creek, east Scottsdale and north Mesa who might use a Fountain Hills dialysis center. He added that it would require 25 to 30 patients to establish a center.

“We have been told Southwest Kidney Institute is very interested in Fountain Hills,” Judge said. “We are very optimistic that sometime in March we will have a final commitment to establish a center here.”

He said the company could establish a center here within six to eight months of a decision.

Southwest Kidney Institute operates 24 dialysis centers in the Greater Phoenix area as well as Payson and Wickenburg. They currently operate an office in Fountain Hills in the medical center on Palisades Boulevard. A physician is available there to see patients one day a week.