The nonprofit concept is the cornerstone of the philosophy of Dialysis Clinic, Inc. The Corporation was conceived in 1971 by a group of university-based nephrologists in Nashville, Tennessee, in response to the scarcity of available dialysis services in the area. DCI represents a viable alternative to for-profit dialysis organizations. The rehabilitation of ESRD patients, along with the constant improvement of their care, is of paramount concern to DCI and will continue to be the principal thrust of our efforts.

In the late 1960s, outpatient dialysis was a very new and ethically challenging issue. Funding this life-saving technology was also a challenge as there were no public funds available to individuals in need of dialysis care and only a limited number of hospital beds were allowed for renal care patients. These limitations and the constant increase in the numbers of new ESRD patients being diagnosed quickly brought greater demands for additional space and, more importantly, fostered the idea of providing dialysis outside the medical center on a regular basis.

One nephrologist in particular was determined to increase the availability of this life-extending therapy. Dr. Keith Johnson, then assistant professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University, was excited about the results of Dr. Belding Scribner's work with an outpatient facility in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle unit was able to perform treatments on a regular schedule at a lower cost than the local hospital. With this information, a group of nephrologists at Vanderbilt met to assess dialysis alternatives in the Nashville area and to determine the feasibility of establishing an outpatient dialysis facility. This group felt strongly that the venture should be not-for-profit and decided that any excess revenues generated would be earmarked for research and education in the field of kidney disease or for expansion of services to benefit additional ESRD patients.

Dialysis Clinic, Inc., is chartered as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization under the IRS rules and regulations. The Corporation has no members and is organized solely for the welfare of society and not for individual profit. Consequently, there are no stockholders or owners. DCI is authorized to receive and maintain real and personal property and to use and apply the whole or any part of the income therefrom and the principal thereof exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purpose. The Corporation has committed over $170,000,000 for local research, education, and nonprofit activities.

DCI holds affiliations with major universities and teaching hospitals throughout the United States. Some of these include Indiana University, Medical University of South Carolina at Charleston, State University of New York at Stony Brook, University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh, The University of New Mexico, University of Cincinnati, University of California at Davis, State University of New York at Syracuse, Tulane University, Creighton University, Tufts University, Drexel University College of Medicine, University of Missouri, Meharry Medical College, Louisiana State University of Shreveport, University of Connecticut, Albany Medical Center, University of Florida, and The University of Arizona.

DCI demonstrates a vital interest in transplantation and dedicates a significant portion of its resources to furthering the transplantation of kidneys for its patients. To this end, DCI founded DCI Donor Services (DCIDS). DCI Donor Services was established as a separate nonprofit corporation in 1992. DCI Donor Services has one of the largest organ and tissue recovery programs in the nation with ten organ and tissue recovery offices. DCIDS provides 24-hour availability of surgical and technical staffs to identify, recover, preserve, and transport organs and tissues for transplantation. DCI Donor Services agencies are operating in Nashville, Tennessee; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Sacramento, California.

When invited to develop a dialysis affiliation, DCI provides all funding necessary to construct, furnish, and operate a new facility. DCI welcomes the opportunity to discuss the benefits of nonprofit dialysis with interested parties.

Dialysis Clinic, Inc.
1633 Church Street, Suite 500
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone (615) 327-3061
Fax (615) 329-2513
(615) 327-3061