Patient Selection – Who Qualifies

It is important to give every patient a chance to prove him or herself when it comes to training for home hemodialysis. Some patients that we may feel are not suitable may just require more dialysis and training and may end up being the most successful patients.

The obvious choice for patients to do home hemodialysis is first and fore most their willingness and ability to perform the therapies at home. Once this has been established we also assess patient’s accommodation to ensure the space and the location comply with the requirements for home such as adequate storage space, cleanliness, proper water and electrical supply and whether or not the patient has a partner at home.

Other patients who could be candidates for the daily hemodialysis program include:

• Pre-dialysis patients
• Failed transplant patients
• Patients wanting to gain or maintain employment. Daily hemodialysis offers individuals flexibility to work and the energy and stamina to do so.
• In-center patients would also be offered daily HHD. Sending these patients home will also help to ease the congestion in the unit.
• So called “non- compliant” patients who may be some of the best success stories. The reason for “non- compliance”is usually due to the rigid restraints on renal patients such as diet and fluid restrictions and the numerous medications needed to normalize blood results. Many or all of these strict and difficult lifestyle adjustments are lifted with daily home dialysis therapies eliminating the non- compliance issue. Patients can realize success rather than being lectured constantly about the “DO NOTS”