The University of Wisconsin Dialysis Program was started in 1974 by Dr. Arvin Weinstein. It has expanded through the years and now includes two hemodialysis units, peritoneal dialysis, and home hemodialysis. Chronic dialysis for our patients is performed at Wisconsin Dialysis, Inc. (WDI), a joint venture between the University of Wisconsin Hospital (UWHC), Meriter Hospital, and the University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation (UWMF), supervised by the nurse manager, Lila Jorgenson, the administrator, John Hensey, and the medical director, Dr. Paul Kellerman. This merging of academic and private medical settings has resulted in state-of-the-art chronic dialysis care for our patients which is patient-oriented, so that our patients enjoy excellent quality of life with end-stage kidney disease. WDI is a full-service unit with a team approach to our patients. Our support personnel include four peritoneal dialysis nurses, two social workers, a clinician nurse educator, two dietitians, a health unit coordinator, two secretaries, and a consultant pharmacist. UWMF patients are hospitalized at either University of Wisconsin Hospital or Meriter Hospital, under the care of faculty within the division, to provide continuity of care between inpatient and outpatient settings. Attending nephrologists have been selected for their interest and talents in treating patients with end-stage kidney disease. Nephrology fellows rotate through chronic dialysis while under the direct supervision of rounding faculty for one month in their first year, and for three consecutive months in their second year.

The main unit in Fitchburg, which opened in spring of 2003, contains a 30 station hemodialysis unit with approximately 110 patients, running six days per week. State-of-the art facilities include centralized water, bicarbonate and acid delivery to the stations, dialyzer reuse, noninvasive access monitering, and paperless computerized medical record. This site also houses the peritoneal dialysis program, which cares for approximately 20 patients. Unique to the University of Wisconsin Dialysis Program is the proximity of the UW Nephrology division offices and the UWHC Kidney Clinic within the same building as the dialysis facilities. A satellite WDI unit with six stations and 24 patients running six days per week is located in East Madison.

WDI - Fitchburg
3034 Fish Hatchery Road
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 270-5600

WDI - East
4600 American Parkway, Suite 108
Madison, WI 53718
(608) 243-3003