By Bill Peckham
The Northwest Kidney Centers May/June patient newsletter, Output, has an article announcing a new program that allows people to "test drive" more frequent dialysis:
I hope this is very successful. It's a challenge to get people already incenter to consider going home, and dialyzing more frequently. The hope is that after two weeks of frequent dialysis along with first hand experience with the equipment they will be better informed to evaluate the home hemodialysis option.
If all dialyzors were fully and accurately informed about their dialysis options how many would choose to dialyze at home frequently? It's an open question but I do think being fully informed does include first hand experience with how it feels to be frequently dialyzed. With out that first hand experience I don't know how you could be fully informed to make the comparison to a conventional incenter dose.
NKC again demonstrates its international leadership in patient care and dialysis advocacy. Keep up the good work Bill as head trustee.
Posted by: Peter Laird, MD | April 28, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Bravo NKC for taking the high route again in the interest of the people in their care.
Posted by: Miriam Lippel Blum | April 28, 2009 at 10:29 PM
I agree this is a great way to help those in-center experience the difference of daily therapy. Good news, please pass some of that inovative and forward thinking out here to the rest of the country!
Posted by: Harvey Wells | April 29, 2009 at 06:55 AM
What a wonderful, patient-centered institution!
Will they also be offering in-center nocturnal hemodialysis?
Posted by: Zach | April 29, 2009 at 10:52 AM
I'm not impressed. I'm waiting for someone to do the dialysis for me.
Seriously, I think it's a wonderful idea. If there's a machine not being used, then it ought to be. I think once people see the ease of set up, they'll get over a big hump in terms of accepting the therapy as quite doable. In two weeks of treatments, one should also feel better. Then the big issue might be the rest of the family, especially the mate, accepting everything that comes with dialysis at home. The cartons and supplies, and the inevitable disruption to what home life was before.
Posted by: Rich Berkowitz | April 29, 2009 at 04:02 PM
I do in-center six days a week for two hour treatments and its worked better than three days a week.
Because I was doubling up on needle sticks per week, my graft finally gave out and I had to have a new fistula surgically placed. That's something to keep in mind if you're doing in-center.
Overall, its been a positive treatment course for me. I have to be up and "on" because of my radio career, so it certainly has helped in that respect.
Posted by: Stacy Without An E | April 30, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Stacy Without an E is a perfect example why the Every Other Day Dialysis Petition was started. In-center dialyzors are normally being cheated of the extra treatments they need to live a healthier and more purposeful life as Stacy is. It's a credit to her neph and dialysis center to allow her to have more treatments. Now if we can only get all of the others to do the same. It's not to late to sing the Every Other Day Dialysis Petition.
Posted by: Rich Berkowitz | May 01, 2009 at 10:12 PM
That is fantastic news ... God, I love Seattle. Why arent there more Seattles in the US
John Agar
Posted by: John Agar | May 03, 2009 at 05:02 AM
John, that's not all of Seattle. There are other non-NKC centers which aren't as illuminating as them. Obviously what's needed in the rest of the U.S. (or at least the much greater majority) is a set of doctors and staff operating in a non-profit setting that is totally dialyzor oriented. With that set of conditions, dialysis will just become an inconvenience we dialyzors can manage. Sure there will always be considerations due to the disease, but we can still live a healthier and more purposeful life.
Posted by: Rich Berkowitz | May 04, 2009 at 09:35 AM