How to select your Haemodialysis Unit

What is Haemodialysis?

Haemodialysis is a process of cleaning blood of its waste products.

Why do you need to do Haemodialysis?

When the body fails to clear its own waste products, one needs to get its blood cleaned artificially. The process of cleaning the blood artificially, is called Haemodialysis.

Who needs Haemodialysis?

The patient who’s kidneys become nonfunctional either temporarily or permanently needs to clean their blood artificially, which is called as Haemodialysis.

How often do such patients need to do Haemodialysis?

Those patients, who have temporary nonfunctioning of kidney  (Acute Kidney Injury AKI), will be required to do Haemodialysis till their kidney function recovers. The frequency with which they need to be dialyzed depends on the health condition of the patient.

 

Those patients, who have permanently damaged kidneys (Chronic Kidney Disease/CKD), will need Haemodialysis for the rest of their life, unless their kidneys are replaced by another functioning kidney by operation. Such an operation is called Kidney Transplant. The frequency of Haemodialysis in these patients is either twice or thrice in a week, depending upon patient’s requirement.

Where is the Haemodialysis done?

Haemodialysis is done in the Artificial Kidney Dialysis Unit (AKDU). The ‘Dialysis Units’ are present in all major hospitals. Not all hospitals have the facility of dialysis. Dialysis is available as a standalone facility as well. These standalone facilities are mainly for dialyzing stable CKD patients.

How to select the dialysis unit?

Choosing a dialysis clinic/unit is an important decision. This decision can seem overwhelming. You will need to consider many factors, including the location, distance from your home, schedule, quality-of-care, & much more.

Here are some tips to help you choose a facility that is right for you

    • Make a visit- Call and make an appointment to visit the clinic. If you can’t go yourself in person, send a friend or family member or call the clinic to learn more. Visiting beforehand will allow you to become familiar with how to get there, what the staff & facility are like, & how comfortable you feel when you’re inside.
    • Evaluate the staff- Is the facility adequately staffed with experienced, trained professionals? During your phone call or visit, did they make you feel welcome? Were they helpful? Knowledgeable? Able to answer your questions?
    • Consider cleanliness- How would you rate the overall cleanliness of the facility?
    • Consider the location & distance from your home- Is the facility convenient for you to get to? How far are you willing to travel each week to get to your treatments? Is it important to live close to the facility?
    • Think about your mode of transportation- Do you have reliable transportation to get to your treatments?
    • Is your nephrologist part of the team? Do you want to continue being treated by your current nephrologist? Be aware that some nephrologists may only work with a certain dialysis clinic. How important is this to you?
    • Ask about available schedules- Does the clinic offer a dialysis schedule that fits your needs? Are there openings for new patients on those shifts?
    • Ask about home dialysis- If you are interested in home dialysis or nocturnal dialysis, does the facility offer these options? You may not be interested in home dialysis now, but you may want the option for later on.
    • Check for financial help at the dialysis facility if you need- Some dialysis clinics offer financial help either from philanthropic organizations or from government schemes

Once you choose a facility & start treatment, you may want to continue your evaluation process for a little longer. It will help you decide if you are satisfied with your choice. Ask yourself:

    • How well does the dialysis facility staff listen to me & address my needs?
    • How well do I feel during & after dialysis?
    • Do I receive clear & understandable advice from the staff in the dialysis facility, including the doctor, advanced practitioner, dietitian, nurse, & social worker? Do they help me understand what I can do to improve my own health?
    • Is the staff compassionate? Attentive? Respectful?

Getting registered with a good, clean, compassionate dialysis unit means a lot for the Chronic Kidney failure patient. Proper timely hygienic treatment can prolong the life span of the patient. Maintenance Haemodialysis (MHD) treatment is a team work where your dialysis unit, dialysis technical staff, nursing staff, nephrologist, renal dietitian, social worker, vascular access care team, relatives, friends, & patient himself, are all involved.