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Health Blog
Why Choose Home Dialysis?
December 1, 2020
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Did you know that 93% of Nephrologists and 89% of nurses will choose home dialysis if their kidneys fail according to a report in Nephrology News and Issues in 2010? With home dialysis, the treatment fits into your life—not the other way around. Treatment times are more flexible and based on your lifestyle. You don’t have to show up at a specific time at a dialysis center for treatment like in-center dialysis. Dialysis can be scheduled around your time. Home dialysis gives you the flexibility you need to keep doing the things you love while helping you feel your best.
There are two types of home dialysis, peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis. In peritoneal dialysis, there is no blood involved, and a machine controls dialysis fluid that goes in and out of your tummy through a tube overnight for 6-10 hours while you are asleep. In home hemodialysis, your blood is cleaned by a special filter that is attached to a smaller dialysis machine than a regular in-center machines for 4-6x per week for about 3-4 hours. You can choose dialysis days and hours based on your body and lifestyle. There is a training program for home dialysis before you start on your own. This may take 2 weeks for peritoneal dialysis or 4-6 weeks for home hemodialysis.
The machines are free and covered by your insurance plan. There are a few medicines that may have copays. Check with your plan and dialysis provider. There are rebates/discounts available for electricity and water used for dialysis in certain areas. There will be a home visit by dialysis staff to find a suitable space to place your machine and store your supplies and equipment and to check your plumbing and electric outlets.
Home dialysis has many benefits including:
Talk to your care team about starting with home dialysis or making the switch to home. |
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