Doors Now Open at New Starling Physicians State-of-the-Art Interventional Access Center

Even if you don’t realize it, chances are you know someone with kidney disease. More than 1 in 8 adults in this country suffer from kidney disease and for nearly half a million of them dialysis is required to manage the disease. Dialysis is a method of purifying the blood using a machine. Starling Physicians is ensuring local patients have access to the care they need with a new and improved Access Center.

Last month Starling opened a larger, more convenient location to deliver full-service care to patients. The state-of-the-art facility is double in capacity of its previous center in Hartford. It is located at 505 Willard Avenue, Building 1, in Newington. The Access Center provides comprehensive care and is staffed with two surgeons and two board-certified nephrologists specializing in interventional nephrology to evaluate and treat common problems associated with the catheters, grafts, and fistulas necessary for dialysis access.

“We have now been officially open for a few weeks and patients are enjoying our convenient location and full service approach,” said Dr. Scott Benson, an interventional nephrologist at Starling Physicians. “We know that access problems can result in dialysis delays, so we make it our goal to get patients in quickly and address their issues so they can have a safe and efficient return to dialysis.”

This new facility provides comprehensive care for patients in a comfortable setting. Patients can see surgeons for consultations, undergo surgical procedures on an outpatient basis, return for post-operative care, and receive follow-up care, as needed.

There are a wide range of interventional procedures performed at the Access Center. These include insertion, replacement, or removal of central venous catheters, examination of blood flow to reveal obstructions, opening blood vessels to improve blood flow, breaking up blockages that are reducing flow, and embolizing vessels that divert flow. All procedures are performed percutaneously, or through the skin, which means there are no incisions or sutures. Also, local sedation means that patients remain comfortable and can go home the same day.

The new Starling Access Center is now open for business. The Hartford location is no longer in operation. Access Center hours are 7 am- 4 pm by appointment. They can be reached at (860) 665-7070 and by fax at (860) 665-8080.

In addition to the Access Center in Newington, patients can receive care for kidney disease at seven other Starling Physicians offices located in Avon, Bloomfield, Enfield, Farmington, Hartford, New Britain, and Wethersfield. The nephrology team cares for patients at 16 dialysis units and are medical directors at 14 dialysis clinics across central Connecticut.

Starling Physicians was formed by the unification of Grove Hill Medical Centers and Connecticut Multispecialty Group. The practice is owned and led by physicians with a deep commitment to providing the highest quality care, while building enduring relationships with its patients. They provide primary and specialty care in over two dozen specialties in 30 locations across Connecticut. For more information, visit www.starlingphysicians.com.

Caption: Dr. Terrence Oder, a neprhologist at the new Starling Physicians Access Center, consults with a patient. The Access Center provides comprehensive care for kidney disease and is staffed with two surgeons and two board-certified nephrologists specializing in interventional nephrology to evaluate and treat common problems associated with the catheters, grafts, and fistulas necessary for dialysis access.