TOWSON, Md., May 1, 2019 – Orchard Hill Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, a Marquis Health Services member located in Towson, has launched a chronic kidney disease (CKD) management program, naming board-certified nephrologist Dr. Kamal Sewaralthahab, MD, NEP, FASN as its director. As a central component of the new program, Orchard Hill is partnering with the National Kidney Foundation Serving Maryland and Delaware (NKFMDDE) to host monthly support group meetings for those living with CKD, their families and caregivers.
“Our specialized CKD program and partnership with the National Kidney Foundation aim to address an immediate need here in the Baltimore area,” said Norman Rokeach, Marquis’ chief executive officer. “We are committed to creating a center of skilled nursing and healthcare excellence here at Orchard Hill and are pleased to welcome Dr. Sewaralthahab, one of the area’s most well-respected nephrologists, to lead this new initiative.”
Dr. Sewaralthahab is affiliated with MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore.
He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Nephrology, and is director of the division of nephrology and hypertension at Maryland Medical First. His interests include management and prevention of progression of chronic kidney disease especially in patients with renal disease due to diabetes and hypertension. Dr. Sewaralthahab also has a special interest in management and quality of life improvement in patients with end-stage renal disease.
Orchard Hill’s new CKD management program provides specialized care and services to patients with CKD and related diagnoses. The program aims to preserve kidney function and prevent further decline through a balance of treatment and education. This includes protocols to reduce symptoms, decrease disability, increase quality of life and promote independence.
Monthly CKD Support Group is Open to the Public
“We are proud to partner with Orchard Hill Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center to bring education along with resources, services and support to patients at the facility and our community,” said Pattie Dash, NKFMDDE’s executive director. “We believe that one of the best ways to serve is to invest in our community to help raise awareness for the prevention and treatment of kidney disease.”
Orchard Hill’s CKD support group meetings will be held on the third Thursday of the month. Free and open to the public, they will take place at the skilled nursing facility, 111 West Road. NKFMDDE will bring in speakers to address a range of key concerns. Each meeting will include a dietitian providing nutrition information. Participants will then have a general discussion, getting tips and advice from one another on managing CKD. For a schedule or to register, visit NKFMDDE’s Facebook page or website.
“Our meetings – for those living with CKD and their caregivers – will provide important resources for enhancing quality of life,” said Nikki Gachot, Marquis’ regional director of business development. “We also have found that the participants provide a wonderful support system for one another.”
Orchard Hill Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center provides post-hospital care, short-term rehab and long-term residential care. Marquis has launched a $3 million renovation at Orchard Hill, upgrading the entire facility and adding a 2,500-square-foot rehab gym with state-of-the-art equipment.
As an established regional skilled nursing provider, Marquis Health Services has strong ties with the Health Facilities Association of Maryland. Marquis Health Services, the healthcare affiliate of Tryko Partners, LLC, is a recognized leader in providing subacute rehabilitation and skilled nursing care, operating nearly 3,000 beds at 23 Mid-Atlantic and New England facilities.
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive and longstanding organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease. For more information, visit www.kidney.org