What do other patients say about being on dialysis?
How do I know if my dialysis facility is a good one?
How can I help prevent others from having to get dialysis?
Can I travel while on dialysis?
Q: What do other patients say about being on dialysis?
A: Bernard Holmes, a member of the Patient Advisory Committee, wrote this poem about being a dialysis patient:
Are Marriage and Dialysis Similar?
You probably never thought of dialysis in the same breath with marriage! There are some similarities, however, between a good marriage and good dialysis. Let's look at some of these similarities.
First, in a marriage, if it is to work, both partners must agree to do their part, whatever those parts are, and stick to them. In dialysis, patient and staff each have vital roles that must be met if dialysis is going to be successful over a number of years.
Both in a marriage and in the dialysis center, a pleasant smile goes a long, long way. Notice how almost no one complains about how a really friendly tech hurts him or her when being stuck? Coincidence? I don't think so. Do you really think friendly techs never miss grafts or hurt? Of course they do, but kindness and warmth make us over look the little hurts...just like in a marriage, you see.
Just like in a marriage, when you come home to a happy mate, and you are grumpy or upset for no apparent reason, you can change the mood of the whole house for hours. The same is true in the dialysis center.
It boils down to the fact that, like marriage, dialysis is a two way street..until death do us part or we get a transplant...no divorce allowed! It takes two sides to make the most of it. Let's all try harder!
Q: How do I know if my dialysis facility is a good one?
A: Most dialysis facilities in the United States are listed on the Dialysis Facility Compare website.
The following things are included in each facility's profile:
Facility characteristics about the dialysis unit, such as
- If there is an evening shift
- How many chairs are available
Quality measures, such as
- Percent of patients receiving adequate dialysis
- Percent of patients treated with Epogen® with a hematocrit of 33 or greater
- Average patient survival rate at the dialysis unit
Where is YOUR dialysis facility?!
Q: How can I help prevent others from having to get dialysis?
A: The National Kidney Disease Education Program would like to educate people early about kidney disease. Please share this with friends and family so that they can get medical help before reaching End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
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Chronic kidney disease is serious, common, and costly, yet preventable and controllable.
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People with kidney disease can live longer and live well.
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If you are African-American and have diabetes, hypertension, or a blood relative with kidney failure, you are at high risk for kidney disease.
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Early detection is important. Ask your doctor if you should have your kidneys checked. You won't know you have kidney disease unless you are tested.
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Effective treatment can prevent or slow kidney damage.
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If left undiagnosed and untreated, kidney disease can lead to kidney failure.
Spread the message by sharing with your family!!
Q: Can I travel while on dialysis?
A: Dialysis and traveling CAN go together. For the peritoneal dialysis patient, it is relatively effortless: locate a facility to contact in case of emergency, coordinate delivery of supplies if the supplies you will need are too cumbersome to carry yourself, pack your bags and go!
For the hemodialysis patient, the task becomes a little more involved: plan at least one (1) month ahead of time, locate a facility, make arrangements to be dialyzed during your stay, coordinate insurance and medical paperwork, pack your bags and go!
Medicare will only cover dialysis within the U.S. or its territories. Check with your other insurance carrier to see what restrictions they may have. There are several websites available to assist you in locating a facility. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has a wonderful site, Dialysis Facility Compare, that not only provides information on dialysis facilities in a specific area, including proximity to destination, but also has information on services offered and facilities' overall quality measures ratings. The site is easy to navigate and offers locator options such as state, city, county, zip code, and facility name.
Global Dialysis offers listings of units in 115 countries. A patient developed the site, and in addition to offering listings of units in various locales, it also provides information about cruises, tours, and lodging that cater to dialysis patients.
Dialysis & Transplantation's listing of dialysis centers includes international listings. Though the number of countries is not as extensive, several countries not listed on Global Dialysis's site can be found here.
Wheredialysis.com lists units in order of proximity to destination.
All of these sites are user-friendly and good resources for locating facilities for the traveling dialysis patient. Always share your plans with your dialysis team as they will have to assist you in forwarding your medical information. Bon Voyage!
