DATE: Tuesday, August 5, 1997               TAG: 9708050109

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: MANTEO                            LENGTH:   71 lines

DARE WILL WORK TO GET DIALYSIS CENTER IN MANTEO PITT COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WOULD OPERATE THE NEW FACILITY.

A kidney dialysis center in Dare County may become a part of a proposed health center in Manteo by early next year, in a cooperative arrangement with Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

Monday, the Dare County Board of Commissioners agreed to proceed toward putting a four-station facility on county land in Manteo.

``PCMH has their money. They have the equipment. And they're ready to move,'' said former Commissioner Clarence Skinner, a member of the board of trustees of Pitt Memorial. ``The need is there, folks. It's a strong need, and time works against you.''

Skinner had spearheaded a plan last year with Chesapeake General Hospital to bring a dialysis center to the Outer Banks Medical Center in Nags Head. But estimates for the project shot from $500,000 to nearly $900,000 after the state said special treatment of waste would be required.

Costs would be far lower in Manteo because it - unlike other municipalities on the Outer Banks - has a sewage treatment plant, which would eliminate the need for additional devices to treat dialysis waste.

Dare County last year bought 5.2 acres on Exeter Street from the town of Manteo for $245,000. Planned for the site are buildings for the county health department, social services, EMS and possibly a satellite office for the sheriff's department.

County Manager Terry Wheeler said the dialysis treatment building will cost about $100,000.

In the agreement with Pitt, the county will build the facility and market it to the tourist population. Dare will also have the certificate of need, a preliminary step in obtaining a permit, transferred from the Nags Head site to Manteo. The certificate was granted by the state in May 1996.

Pitt will operate the dialysis center and be responsible for costs for equipment, staff, benefits, utilities and other operating expenses. The county will lease the buildingto PCMH but will not take payments until the hospital has recouped its investment and the center is profitable. Pitt also has the right to renegotiate the lease if cumulative operating costs exceed the projected $92,000 by 25 percent after three years.

About 12 Outer Banks residents travel to clinics in Edenton, Elizabeth City or Chesapeake three times a week for four-hour dialysis treatments, which cleanse their bodies of waste normally excreted by healthy kidneys.

``You can't skip these treatments,'' Skinner said. ``If you skip this treatment, then you've got an appointment with the undertaker.''

IN OTHER BUSINESS, the board gave the go-ahead to hosting the first Babe Ruth League girls' softball World Series in 1999. The league would target girls 13 through 15, and feature eight regional teams and a host team from Dare County. Commissioners agreed to provide $40,000 to Babe Ruth League to house managers and coaches.

Also Monday, the commission:

Gave approval to county Finance Director David Clawson to switch to the use of purchase cards, credit cards with strict transaction controls that reduce costs and save time. Purchase cards would reduce processing from the current 307 transactions to 12 statements and checks, Clawson said.

Approved an ordinance that will allow the county to run criminal background checks on volunteers and employees in parks and recreation programs.

Agreed to request that the Army Corps of Engineers work up a cost-sharing plan to dredge Hatteras Harbor.

Gave $7,000 in seed money toward a Stumpy Point dinner theater.

Approved an addendum to the 1996 water agreement between Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills and Dare County that tightens rules on the sale of water outside Dare County.

Heard that the state Department of Transportation has agreed to emergency measures to keep ocean overwash off sections of Highway 12 on Hatteras Island. DOT will build up dunes with sand and reinforce them with vegetation in three areas: one mile south of the Bonner Bridge; the Canadian Hole area in Buxton; and the northern end of Hatteras Village.

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