HOUSTON – Dialyspa, a dialysis treatment center in Houston, almost closed all seven of its locations throughout the Greater Houston area.
Former employees say the closures began in February, but several of the clinics closed within the past few months.
Sydney Goffney told KPRC 2 Reporter Corley Peel she was sold a dream. She took a job as a certified Dialysis Technician at Dialyspa in Vintage Park in July.
“This is a very upscale type of clinic,” said Goffney.
She said Dialyspa paid higher than competing clinics, allowing her to balance nursing school and work. In October, her dream came to a screeching halt.
“I was at work one day and I just got the news that the doors were locked from patients. They were standing outside from 5 a.m.,” said Goffney.
The landlords put up signs and court documents on the doors at several locations, indicating the company had not paid rent.
At one location, records show the company had an outstanding rent of roughly $480,000.
Goffney said the company did not inform employees that the location was at risk of closing.
No one told us anything,” said Goffney.
She said a facility administrator convinced the landlord to give them more time to help the patients.
“She did work with him to help him get his patients transferred before she locked the doors indefinitely. The patients were able to get moved to surrounding facilities,” said Goffney.
According to Goffney, employees were not getting paid while they were helping relocate the patients.
“I have numerous messages from me reaching out to the VP asking ‘hey, am I going to get paid today?’ said Goffney.
Goffney eventually got her final paycheck, but some of her colleagues are still waiting to get paid.
“We’re all just kind of scrambling, especially it’s the holidays,” said Goffney.
She said the dream she was sold, has led her to file for unemployment. She said some of the former employees plan to seek legal action.
Records show Cadence Bank filed three different civil lawsuits involving Dialyspa’s CEO Jeff Kalina last week. The lawsuits show the company owes hundreds of thousands of dollars that were borrowed from the bank. Court documents show, a former employee also filed a civil lawsuit in June, claiming their insurance unexpectedly stopped covering their medical expenses.
The Vice President of Operations told KPRC 2 they would pass along our request for Dialyspa’s comment to Kalina. KPRC 2 called Kalina’s listed phone number and went to his address that was listed on the lawsuit but was unsuccessful.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Dialyspa Medical Center’s license expires on December 31st. KPRC2 has reached out to the Texas Health and Human Services for more details about the closures and any action that could be taken. The agency is looking into the request.