VERNON HILLS, Ill.— Lifeline Vascular Access, announced the opening of a new vascular center serving nephrology practices and dialysis patients across the Tampa Bay area.

Richard Nee, vice president and general manager for Lifeline, said Lifeline Vascular Center Tampa is the company's fourth facility of its kind in the state of Florida and 66^th nationally and is pleased to be able to help improve the quality of care available to Tampa-area dialysis patients.

"There are more than 20,000 patients on hemodialysis in the state and nearly all of them will, at some point, require intervention for an access issue. Research shows that the availability of outpatient vascular access services enhances the continuity of their care and significantly improves their clinical outcomes."

Nee says the Tampa area has more than 30 dialysis centers in the area, and there is a significant patient population who will benefit from the convenience of this new freestanding outpatient location.

Gerald Beathard, MD, PhD, vice president of Provider Development, agreed. "The Lifeline Vascular Access system of centers represents more than half a million successful patient encounters. Our physicians and staff have posted a procedure success rate of 98 percent and a patient satisfaction rate of 93 percent. These numbers are well above national benchmarks and we're committed to the task of improving the quality of life for the patients we serve."

Lifeline Vascular Access, which now operates 66 centers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, was recently re-accredited by The Joint Commission. Awarded its first accreditation in 2006, the company received the nationally recognized Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval, which reflects a commitment to quality healthcare performance standards and patient safety.

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