Selecting a Dialysis Center
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As I've mentioned in earlier posts, I have recently changed nephrologist. My new nephrologist is in an urban area about 45 miles away.
I'm planning to move to this same urban location this summer so I can more easily access medical care as I age. (I live alone and am the last person living in my family so I've decided I need to be sure I've got easy access for all my medical care.)
There are numerous dialysis centers in this urban area. One is affiliated with the university hospital with which my new nephrologist is also affiliated. However, several other centers have higher QIP ratings than the university-affiliated center. (Of course, that may be due to the severity of complications many patients who go to the university nephrology program present.) in addition, the university center is 30-45 minutes away from the area where I will live.
So there are several other centers much closer to my future home. They all have higher QIP ratings.
My questions:
1. Do we choose our dialysis centers or do our nephrologist choose them for (or with) us?
2. If we choose our dialysis centers, what would you suggest I think about when selecting a dialysis center?
Thank you,
Marj
0 likes, 2 replies
badger_47080 marj01201
Posted
Good morning,
I do not know where you live but I do know that in Texas you can pick and choose any dialysis center as long as you're covered with insurance.
I would really do some extensive research. My mom went to several dialysis centers and some of them were just awful. We finally found a location that fit best for her. Ask your nephrologist he may know more information. Also look at the reviews.
We had one nurse that was tending to my mom at a dialysis center, she forgot to add potassium and my mom had to be taken to the emergency. Her heart almost stopped. After this incident I started drilling nurses on their background and how many years experience.
marj01201 badger_47080
Posted
Badger,
Thank you for your response. I live in Kansas. I'm also still working full time and do have medical insurance through work. I'm expecting to work for at least 7 more years. Then dialysis will have to be covered by Medicare and a medigap policy (hoping I can find a medigap policy that will cover what Medicare doesn't cover).
I am planning to try PD dialysis first and so would just go to the center for training and then once a month for a check, I think. The center that has the best safety ratings also provides training and monitoring of PD dialysis as well as in-center HD dialysis. So, if it checks out with patient reviews as well as with my new nephrologist, it would be the place I will try first.
My father received in-home HD dialysis several decades ago. My mother and I were his care providers. Consequently, I have some idea what to expect with HD dialysis. But I will need to have that done in-center rather than in home. Thus my focus on selecting a dialysis center.
I'm actually pleased to have more options for dialysis centers. There is only one center in my current community. It's safety ratings are slipping. I'm also hearing concerns like that you shared from patients who receive HD dialysis there. That's the other reason I decided to move this spring.
But I digress🐶 Thank you for your comments.
Marj