SNG Acquires Memorial Dialysis Centers

Memorial Health System of East Texas has announced that it has sold the Henderson Kidney Disease Center in Lufkin and transferred the management responsibilities of The San Augustine Dialysis Center, the hospital system’s outpatient dialysis facilities. Memorial transferred the ownership/management of these facilities to Sankar Nephrology Group (SNG), a Texas-based dialysis management company that owns and operates nine state-of-the-art dialysis centers in Texas and Oklahoma.

According to Bryant Krenek, Memorial President and CEO, the decision was based on the changing health care climate, which included a reduction in Medicare reimbursements and the rapidly rising drug costs that the dialysis center purchases each year.  “Health care reform is ultimately changing the rules of how hospitals deliver services,” said Mr. Krenek.  “With the changes in reimbursements and the ability of regional and national dialysis care providers to better manage costs and care, Memorial chose to put these centers in the hands of an experienced organization with an excellent reputation.” 

Memorial is pleased to welcome SNG to East Texas.  According to Mr. Krenek, the patients at the Henderson Kidney Disease Center and The San Augustine Dialysis Center have not experienced an interruption in services.  Additionally, employees have kept their jobs and transitioned to SNG. “Memorial did not enter into this sale without careful consideration.  We wanted to make sure that our patients would continue to receive excellent care from a reputable and highly respected health care provider.  Sankar Nephrology Group is very well respected in the industry and even has plans to enhance local services in Lufkin and San Augustine,” said Mr. Krenek.

According to Dr. Ponniah Sankar, SNG prides itself on premium dialysis clinics where patients find exactly what they are looking for: exceptional clinical expertise and an excellent quality of life.  “We are honored to serve our newest patients at the SNG-Lufkin Dialysis Center (formerly the Henderson Kidney Disease Center) and the SNG-San Augustine Dialysis Center.  We are committed to providing these patients – and all SNG patients – with the very best in dialysis care.”

SNG provides high-quality, patient-focused care delivered by top local physicians and professionals in settings that maximize safety and comfort.  In addition to in-center hemodialysis services, select SNG facilities offer acute treatments for in-hospital patients and access to staff-assisted, home-based care.

Memorial will contract with Sankar Nephrology to continue to offer inpatient dialysis care at Memorial Medical Center—Lufkin.