FORT WORTH, Texas – Members of the public who require ongoing outpatient hemodialysis are invited to attend an open house for the new Renal Center of Fort Worth Sunday afternoon.

During the open house, individuals and their families can tour the facility and talk with the staff. The open house will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, September 24, 2000. The facility is located on the campus of the University of North Texas Health Science Center at 1049 Clifton Street, off Camp Bowie Boulevard in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. Call (817) 870-5002 for more information.

The16-chair dialysis facility is expected to eventually serve 48 hemodialysis patients per day. Peritoneal dialysis services will also be offered through the facility.

The UNT Health Science Center collaborated with a national renal management group to establish the chronic care outpatient dialysis facility, which will be known as the Renal Center of Fort Worth, LLLP. Ira Epstein, DO, chief of nephrology in the department of internal medicine at the health science center, will serve as medical director for the facility.

UNT Health Science Center's medical students and residents will be able to receive medical training in the care of dialysis patients through this facility. Student rotation and residency programs will be established to support the educational mission of the health science center. Future education, research and patient care programs may include the creation of a satellite transplant center and clinical trials for nephrology-specific research.

If you are with the media and need additional information or would like to arrange an interview, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 817-735-2446.