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From: Adam on 11 Jul 2008 19:29
Hi everyone! I'm on hemodialysis at the local center while awaiting
transplant. I'm hoping to get away for a few days, which will mean
having one hemodialysis session away from "home". The web sites

http://www.globaldialysis.com/centres.asp
http://www.davita.com/find-a-center/search.cfm

show me that there is one center 10 miles from where I'm hoping to be
(around Montpelier, Vermont, USA), and several within 50 miles.

Here's my question: How can I evaluate these centers, from 300 miles
away? Or can I assume that any of them would be acceptable, at least
for one session, and just go with the closest one with an available
slot? My dialysis center social worker can make arrangements, but
doesn't know anything about the quality of any of these centers.

Thanks for any advice on this! This will be my first time travelling
since starting HD. Any comments on specific centers in that area would
be especially appreciated. Thanks very much in advance!

Adam
--
Email: adam seven zero seven at verizon dot net
From: "Paul Bartram" p.bartram AT OR NEAR on 12 Jul 2008 02:00

"Adam" <look(a)bottom.of.message> wrote
> Hi everyone! I'm on hemodialysis at the local center while awaiting
> transplant. I'm hoping to get away for a few days, which will mean having
> one hemodialysis session away from "home". The web sites
>
> http://www.globaldialysis.com/centres.asp
> http://www.davita.com/find-a-center/search.cfm
>
> show me that there is one center 10 miles from where I'm hoping to be
> (around Montpelier, Vermont, USA), and several within 50 miles.
>
> Here's my question: How can I evaluate these centers, from 300 miles away?
> Or can I assume that any of them would be acceptable, at least for one
> session, and just go with the closest one with an available slot?

I think you can assume that any dialysis unit would be fully competent from
a technical point of view, they have to be. As for comfort, friendliness
etc., well really, if it only for a single session, what does it matter?

I would add a disclaimer here. I'm in Queensland Australia, and use the
state hospital system. If you use private centres, paid for by your medical
insurance, I'd say the same thing applies: they'd have to be up to standard
or would close down quickly. The quality of the sandwiches might vary from
place to place (they certainly do here!) but you will get the medical
service you need, and 9 times out of ten you'll be attended by very friendly
and knowledgeable nursing staff. If I'm going out of town, I usually ring
the target unit and ask a few pertinent questions like:

Is there reserved and/or easy parking available during my booking?

Do I need to bring any additional documentation like copies of statistics,
or do they FAX them from your usual centre?

and minor things like do you need to bring headphones to listen to the TV?

> Thanks for any advice on this! This will be my first time travelling
> since starting HD. Any comments on specific centers in that area would be
> especially appreciated.

Obviously I can't help there, but I've been to 5 or 6 different Queensland
units, and never had a problem (except at one where I got a parking ticket
for outstaying a 3 hour meter - Grrr!)

Paul


From: Adam on 12 Jul 2008 21:25
Paul Bartram wrote:
>> which will mean having one hemodialysis session away from "home".
[snip]
>> Here's my question: How can I evaluate these centers, from 300 miles away?
>> Or can I assume that any of them would be acceptable, at least for one
>> session, and just go with the closest one with an available slot?
>
> I think you can assume that any dialysis unit would be fully competent from
> a technical point of view, they have to be. As for comfort, friendliness
> etc., well really, if it only for a single session, what does it matter?

Thanks VERY much, Paul, for your sensible answers from your experience.
I guess I can go with the closest center that has an opening that day.
This whole trip, though only a few days, involves coordinating not
only dialysis but also the schedules of several relatives.

> I would add a disclaimer here. I'm in Queensland Australia, and use the
> state hospital system. If you use private centres, paid for by your medical
> insurance, I'd say the same thing applies: they'd have to be up to standard
> or would close down quickly.

That brings up another good point: I'd better make sure that the other
center accepts my insurances!

> The quality of the sandwiches might vary from
> place to place (they certainly do here!)

You get sandwiches??? I have nothing to compare, but at my "home"
center, we even have to bring our own pillows and blankets. It's in a
shopping center, and I'm told that the ones in hospitals are better with
amenities. OTOH I think it's cheerier than having to go to a hospital
3x/week, and parking's much easier.

> If I'm going out of town, I usually ring
> the target unit and ask a few pertinent questions like:
>
> Is there reserved and/or easy parking available during my booking?

Good point! Since I've never dialyzed away from home, I'll have one of
the relatives drive me there and back, just in case I end up with
horrible cramps or something. Normally I drive myself.

> Do I need to bring any additional documentation like copies of statistics,
> or do they FAX them from your usual centre?

My center has a social worker who'll handle all the details. She's
already informed me that the other centers require a recent chest x-ray
and EKG. (So did mine, before I could start there.) Straightforward
enough.

>> Any comments on specific centers in that area would be
>> especially appreciated.
>
> Obviously I can't help there, but I've been to 5 or 6 different Queensland
> units, and never had a problem

I've never even seen another dialysis center, so I have absolutely no
idea what to expect. (And I've never been anywhere near Queensland, but
my parents visited Brisbane and Cairns, and I had to send a Secret Santa
package to Mooroobool once. :-) ) Thanks again!

Adam
From: "Paul Bartram" p.bartram AT OR NEAR on 13 Jul 2008 01:28

"Adam" <look(a)bottom.of.message> wrote

> You get sandwiches??? I have nothing to compare, but at my "home" center,
> we even have to bring our own pillows and blankets. It's in a shopping
> center, and I'm told that the ones in hospitals are better with amenities.
> OTOH I think it's cheerier than having to go to a hospital 3x/week, and
> parking's much easier.

Because of the financial setup, dialysis in the US is a lot different from
here. While we do have privately funded patients, you certainly won't find
clinics in shopping centres, only in private hospitals. Maybe one day as the
pressure increases we will have stand-alone units, at least in the big
cities.

Things aren't so bad that we have to supply bedding (although some do - I
have my own pillow, thinner than the ones the hospital use.) Some of the
major units offer the same meal menu as the general wards, including a hot
meal in the evening. Ours give you a round of sandwiches and a cup of tea /
coffee, plus another cup 2 hours later, but we're a country hospital, so you
get home-baked cake every time someone has a birthday too!

> I've never even seen another dialysis center, so I have absolutely no idea
> what to expect.

No big surprises really, they all work roughly the same way, and will always
try to accommodate 'holiday' clients where they can. They know dialysis is
not a lot of fun, and the occasional trip away from home is very important
to all patients. Sadly with petrol going for $1.60 a litre here, I won't be
going anywhere soon!

Paul


From: Adam on 13 Jul 2008 09:29
Paul Bartram wrote:
> Because of the financial setup, dialysis in the US is a lot different from
> here. While we do have privately funded patients, you certainly won't find
> clinics in shopping centres, only in private hospitals. Maybe one day as the
> pressure increases we will have stand-alone units, at least in the big
> cities.

This center used to be in, and part of, a local hospital, but it was
moved out, and then sold to Fresenius. ("Privatization," you know.)
It's not a big city, but it's the only center in the entire county.

> Things aren't so bad that we have to supply bedding (although some do - I
> have my own pillow, thinner than the ones the hospital use.) Some of the
> major units offer the same meal menu as the general wards, including a hot
> meal in the evening. Ours give you a round of sandwiches and a cup of tea /
> coffee, plus another cup 2 hours later, but we're a country hospital, so you
> get home-baked cake every time someone has a birthday too!

No such luxuries where I am. Being privately owned, they're probably
trying to cut costs. They're usually shorthanded on staff, too,
although quality of the staff is good.

> Sadly with petrol going for $1.60 a litre here, I won't be
> going anywhere soon!

Yesterday (Saturday July 12th), I paid US $4.279/gallon, which I think
is about AUS $1.17/liter or 0.714 Euros/liter. Europeans call it a
bargain! I was going to make this trip (about 300 miles each way) on my
own, but instead will probably be going with my parents, because
gasoline alone will be over $100 total.

Adam
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