Quality Dialysis

“Medicine has changed significantly, and a lot has to do with obesity,” Barclay said. “It’s what I call a ‘generational curse’ -- when I go into the homes, I see that the same habits of the dialysis patients exist in siblings and spouses. We try to educate the family as well as the patient while we’re out there. With the home program, they become informed about their care and can participate in their care.”

From the Patient’s Perspective

Joyce, a dialysis patient who lives in a suburb of Houston, has found that home dialysis suits her to a T. She initially began with PD at night, but after five months, found that it just wasn’t working. She then switched to hemodialysis, which she has done at home from the beginning. And, she said, “As far as I’m concerned, that’s the only option. I have been so sick so many times that I don’t know how I would have gotten to a clinic.”

Dialyzing at home was not difficult from her perspective. Joyce’s nurse comes to her house Monday, Wednesday and Friday to provide dialysis, which saves her the trouble of going out.

“I have real trouble with my knees and legs; they’re very weak,” she explained. Although Joyce has a wheelchair that her daughter can use to take her to the doctor, she finds it much more convenient for dialysis to come to her, rather than the opposite. And if her blood pressure drops sharply after her treatment, she can simply rest in her bed before getting up, rather than rushing to free a dialysis chair for the next patient in line.

“The advantage is that [my nurse] is here with me and takes good care of me,” she added. “He doesn’t have to watch two or three machines. It’s just all the advantages in the world to me.”

Joyce’s treatments are paid for by Medicare and by her private insurer; there are no out-of-pocket costs for her.

Ultimately, she says, home dialysis was the best—and only—option for her. It provides her a comfortable setting and the one-on-one care that can help her stay healthier longer. RBT