Freeman Nephrology and Dialysis Center at Freeman East and Freeman’s Outpatient Dialysis in Webb City have both won Golden Q Awards, celebrating dialysis facilities that go above and beyond to protect patient health and improve care outcomes.

“These awards were a surprise to us,” said Teri Williams, Administrative Director of Freeman’s Dialysis Services. “We are happy that our efforts have not gone unnoticed and will continue to strive to achieve the highest possible standards for the Freeman’s dialysis units.”

Freeman dialysis was chosen for the Flu Fighter award thanks to the diligence shown by Freeman dialysis staff to achieve an influenza vaccination rate of at least 80 percent for their dialysis patients during the 2025-2026 flu season. The Respiratory Shield award was given to Freeman staff for ensuring their patients achieved a pneumococcal pneumonia up-to-date rate of 80 percent or higher. For comparison, about 43.1 percent of Americans get their annual flu vaccination shot.

Both awards reflect a “strong commitment” on behalf of Freeman Health System to aid with infection prevention and patient safely, while “ensuring that vulnerable populations receive essential vaccinations.”

“These awards are definitely important to the dialysis units. It shows our dedication to promoting and providing the safest, most effective dialysis treatment and care for each patient we are privileged to care for,” Williams said. “We strive to achieve the goals and key performance indicators placed on dialysis units with each treatment. This involves a well-educated team of dialysis professionals who are dedicated to keeping our patients safe and helping them to achieve their optimal levels of health.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year influenza causes between 6,300 and 52,000 deaths in the U.S., based on the severity of an individual flu season. Pneumococcal pneumonia causes tens of thousands of deaths annually each year nationwide, according to CDC figures.

“Flu and pneumonia vaccines are very important for our patients because many are immunocompromised due to the nature of chronic kidney disease,” Williams said. “We offer and encourage all of our patients to vaccinate for flu yearly and to follow the CDC-recommended guidelines for pneumonia vaccinations.”

Overall, “We are pleased that our efforts have not gone unnoticed but definitely do not plan to rest on our laurels, so to speak,” Williams said. “We strive every day to improve our care and to help the whole patient to achieve their optimal level of health. Becoming a dialysis patient is a life-changing event, and we feel it is our responsibility to provide the best care possible. It is also an honor to have the patients put their trust in our hands, and we do not want to forget that.”

To learn more about Freeman Health System’s award-winning nephrology care, go to https://www.freemanhealth.com/specialty/nephrology-kidney-care.