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Permit No. 44
Pacesetter
is published by Kadlec Health System
888 Swift Blvd., Richland,WA 99352
(509) 946-4611
Mary Lynn Merriman, MLM Communications, editor
Kim Fetrow, Mary Lynn Merriman, Nikki Ostergaard, photography
Pacesetter
Editorial Board chair:
Nikki Ostergaard
Pacesetter
Editorial Board members:
Anali Chavez,
Angela Mohondro, Antoinette Burnside, Bill Baldwin, Cara Hitt,
Drew Halley, Heidi Hill, Jeff Clark, Jim Hall, Julie Chavez, Julie Meek,
Kris Gauntt, Larry Christensen, Meg Fallows, Nan Domenici, Renee Sams,
Stephanie C.Williams
The material in
Pacesetter
is not intended for diagnosing or
prescribing. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of
medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.
Information in
Pacesetter
comes from a wide range of medical experts.
Models may be used in photos and illustrations.
Copyright © 2013; Coffey Communications, Inc.
CUN29927
A higher level of care
888 Swift Blvd.
Richland, WA 99352
DISEASES OF THE
kidney remain a
major cause of illness and death in
the United States. The National Kidney
Foundation states that more than
26 million Americans are affected by
kidney and urologic diseases, and
millions more are at risk.
Treating ailing kidneys can be tricky,
and finding the right care is not just
important, but makes a potential life-
altering difference.
Just ask Anna Cassidy, a patient
at Kadlec Clinic Nephrology. She had
some ongoing, undetermined health
problems before she came under
the care of one of the clinic’s kidney
specialists, Nalini Vassa, MD.
“Dr. Vassa found that I was at stage 4
of acute kidney failure, which is right
Kadlec Clinic Nephrology
provides important care
before you begin dialysis,” said Anna.
“She put me on a medication, which has
worked so well. I am now at stage 2 and
that’s great news.”
Kadlec Clinic Nephrology is dedicated
to serving patients such
as Anna with a broad
spectrum of kidney
(renal) and urinary
tract disease as well as
the conditions these
diseases can produce,
such as hypertension.
The skilled medical staff is dedicated
to providing patients with state-of-the-
art medical care from diagnosis through
treatment. The providers work closely
with referring physicians to create a
team approach toward patient care.
“Dr. Vassa is amazing. She gave me
wonderful care,” said Anna.
“When I have an appointment with
her, everyone is so nice,” she said. “They
know that kidney patients require a
special approach and they treat their
patients that way.”
Dr. Vassa is joined at Kadlec
Clinic Nephrology’s Kennewick
location by Fareed Arif, MD, and
Puneet Tandon, MD. In the Richland
location patients are cared for by
Fadi Akoum, MD; Wassim Khawandi, MD;
and Robert Pleyo, ARNP. Kadlec Clinic
Nephrology also has clinics in Hermiston
and Pendleton.
Kadlec connection
In addition to kidney issues, Anna
also has a complicated health history.
She is under the care of other Kadlec
providers including Kadlec Clinic Senior
Care and Kadlec Neuroscience Center.
She has seen firsthand
how the electronic
medical records system
within Kadlec helps
coordinate her care.
“It is so easy for one
doctor to look at my
records from another doctor,” she said.
“It’s an amazing coordination of care
because everyone is so connected. I
really appreciate that.”
For more information about
Kadlec Clinic Nephrology, visit
.
The term
nephrology
comes from the Greek
word
nephros
, which
means
kidney
.
