ABOUT THIS COMPANY

ABOUT THIS COMPANY

A long history

The Fresenius name has been associated with the health care industry since the 18th century, when the family first assumed ownership of the Hirsch Pharmacy in Frankfurt, Germany.  Today, the company is the world's largest integrated provider of dialysis treatments and products for individuals with chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than 1.7 million people worldwide.  In addition to providing dialysis services, Fresenius offers holistic patient care in its clinics.  Called UltraCare, the program’s nurses, dieticians and social workers counsel patients with their treatment options and help them manage their own home care.  Besides in-clinic consultation, Fresenius provides a traveling service for those who are homebound.  The company also maintains a laboratory unit, Spectra Laboratories, which specializes in processing tests for patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD).  In the last quarter century, Spectra’s research wing, Spectra Clinical Research, has grown to provide testing for nearly 50 percent of U.S. dialysis patients.  This division also offers software that allows labs to order tests and manage the results; it also processes test results for clinical trials.  As of June 30, 2009, Fresenius Medical North America, a subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA, has treated 130,795 patients in some 1,762 dialysis clinics in the United States.  The company's North American operations are based out of Massachusetts and are the continent's largest provider of renal dialysis products and services, with about 20,000 employees.