Northwest Kidney Centers

Northwest Kidney Centers is a regional, not-for-profit community-based provider of kidney dialysis, public health education, and research into the causes and treatments of chronic kidney disease. It was established in Seattle, Washington in 1962 by Dr. Belding H. Scribner and Dr. James W. Haviland, making it the world's first out-of-hospital dialysis provider. The organization offers dialysis services in the greater Seattle area through its 20 free-standing clinics, eight hospitals, and home dialysis program. In 2020, Northwest Kidney Centers opened its first clinic in Everett, Washington, expanding its reach to Snohomish County.

Northwest Kidney Centers is a leading provider of dialysis in King County, with nearly 80 percent of people on dialysis in the county choosing their services. In 2019, the organization's 727-member staff provided 284,511 treatments, accounting for about a quarter of all dialysis treatments in the state. Northwest Kidney Centers also operates the oldest home dialysis program in the United States, training 275 individuals to perform dialysis at home.

The organization's model of providing dialysis outside of a hospital setting has had a global impact. It has inspired the establishment of outpatient dialysis clinics worldwide. According to a report from the United States Renal Data System, there are 6,009 outpatient dialysis clinics in the United States as of 2013.

For more information, visit the Northwest Kidney Centers website.