By PAULENE POPARAD

Announced Tuesday was the lease of space for a regional kidney dialysis center and nephrology offices in a new $2.6 million medical office building at Coffee Creek Center as part of the development’s growing 114-acre healthcare campus.

The facility, now being built east of State Road 49 at the Indiana Toll Road, will offer both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Plans include a patient drive-thru canopy, an exterior healing garden, a 100-gallon saltwater aquarium and upgraded, home-like interiors in an effort to create a therapeutic environment that promotes patient wellbeing.

Additionally, there will be a patient-lift system to move patients whose mobility is challenged, while providing safety and ease for employees. The more than 15,000 square-foot dialysis facility is anticipated to provide 40 jobs for local residents as well as serve as a regional nephrology education resource center.

Today, Chesterton/Duneland Chamber of Commerce executive director Bonnie Trout welcomed the news. “I think this is wonderful. It will be wonderful for the whole area and the economy.”

Local attorney Cliff Fleming, who represents developers of Coffee Creek parcels, said he’s excited that local healthcare services are being expanded and more good news could be in store. “There’s been substantial interest on the part of the healthcare community, who have ascertained this is a convenient site for patients, and other providers are looking at the Coffee Creek campus.”

The tenant who will operate the dialysis/nephrology center was not named, however, according to Chicago-based leasing firm HSA PrimeCare, the tenant chose the Coffee Creek site because of its proximity to major highways providing easy access for patients in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.

Additionally, the tenant was attracted to both Coffee Creek’s current aesthetics as well as its plans for future development, said HSA PrimeCare.

Coffee Creek developers have been moving to create a regional medical campus, possibly including a hospital, at the 640-acre site where the Lakeshore Bone and Joint Institute and the Lakeshore Surgicare ambulatory surgery center currently are located. Residential and commercial uses also are in place or planned at Coffee Creek.

Trish Lampert of HSA PrimeCare said as far as who will be located in the balance of the space in the newest medical building, “We don’t have confirmation on anyone else just yet.” Fleming said the dialysis center hopes to open this fall.

A healthcare real-estate development firm, HSA PrimeCare said in a statement that delivering a quality patient experience was a priority in the dialysis center’s design because patients spend more than 12 hours a week at a dialysis center undergoing treatment.

For that reason the dialysis/nephrology center will take a holistic approach to kidney care and provide the most modern facilities and amenities to enhance patient treatment, according to HSA PrimeCare.

The leasing firm cited national statistics that more than 340,000 people in the United States are on dialysis; the increased need for dialysis facilities can be attributed to an aging population and the overall rise in diabetes.

Posted 4/18/2007