Dialysis Administrator (Me)

[Mr. B]

Where do I start? I am the administrator for a home health company. Our customers, clients & patients have all asked the owner, a pastor, to develop an independent patient-centered center. We realized that over 80% of dialysis centers are owned by large companies. Large companies NEVER deliver care thinking patient first--no matter what they say. I am on this forum to hear from you. I want to know what patients want. In our center, you guys will have more input than most. So let me have it!

[Sluff]

Welcome Mr.B to IHD.

I'm sure you will find all the answers you are looking for. Feel free to look around and post as often as you like.

I'm pre dialysis and really can not help you in this subject.

I commend you however for making your quest a priority.

Sluff/ Admin

[paris]

So glad you joined us! We need people like you on our side.  Take time to read through the threads, there are many opinions here!   

[Joe Paul]

Welcome Mr. B, good to have you aboard.

[okarol]

Where do I start? I am the administrator for a home health company. Our customers, clients & patients have all asked the owner, a pastor, to develop an independent patient-centered center. We realized that over 80% of dialysis centers are owned by large companies. Large companies NEVER deliver care thinking patient first--no matter what they say. I am on this forum to hear from you. I want to know what patients want. In our center, you guys will have more input than most. So let me have it!

  Hi Mr. B!
Nice that you could join us. I hope to read more about what you have in mind under the other thread.
There's lots of good info here and many patient's with loads of experience. I am sure they will be glad to respond.
Welcome!


okarol/moderator

[MyssAnne]

Welcome, Mr. B! I'm a pd patient, so I can't really respond, but I will say, whatever you can do to make the patients comfortable (and sane!)

[angellady07]

welcome.

[thegrammalady]

  you are a brave man, most people here don't hold anything back. that said, we are a very caring, extremely loving family. welcome.

[Romona]

 

[goofynina]

Hi Mr. B, Welcome to ihatedialysis.com.   You have found a great group of people who are all willing to share their stories and give advice, support, encouragement and anything else that is needed to help our fellow members dealing with this disease.  Please feel free to post questions, comments and/or concerns of your own.  Looking forward to hearing from you.   
 

Goofynina/Admin.

[Mr. B]

What a great welcome! I really look forward to learning from you guys as the center project moves forward. I already have gotten a few ideas! Thanks again.

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our community!  I am from the Caribbean, so our situation may not be the same as yours, but there are some things that should be priorities whenever dialysis patients come for care.
1. - nephrologists who spend time with patients
2. - nurses and techs who consider the patient's comfort as important, and not just getting the job done.
3. - clear explanation of everything to patients, or to their loved ones and caregivers.
These to me are the most important.
I think you have already shown that you are stepping in this direction.  I wish you great success in your project.


Bajanne, Moderator

[keefer51]

 

[paris]

   If you want honest opinions, you have come to the right place!  It is nice for someone to ask what we would like to see in the dialysis field.  Glad you found us. 

[lola]

 

[Adam_W]

 . It's good to have someone in the dialysis field who puts patients first. That seems to be becoming rare nowadays.

Adam

[tamara]

 

[angela515]

 

[Black]

  I am extremely pleased to find that there are still people striving to do what is best for dialysis patients.   

I had read and heard so many horrible things about dialysis centers that we looked at several, in two states, before my husband started dialysis.  We were ready to move to another state in order to get a NxStage, so my husband never had to do dialysis in a dialysis center.  Thankfully, our state got a center with NxStage training just a few weeks before he started dialysis.  We drove 200 miles and he stayed for three weeks of training.

Anyway, I can't really say anything about our first-hand experience inside a dialysis center, as we don't really have any, other than our three weeks of training in a room separate from the in-center patients.  But, based on what we saw during our tours of the clinics, there is much room for improvement and YOU will be very much in demand.

One thing I do recommend is trying to institute an education program for all patients who may one day need dialysis.  Patients need to be educated by those who see them way before you see them.  No one told us that there were things which could be done to prolong the life of his kidneys, no one recommended a consult with a renal dietitian, no one told him that he needed to protect his arm veins and exercise his hand/arm to increase the chances of getting a natural A/V fistula.  Even when we visited the dialysis center, not one person told us about ALL of the different kinds of dialysis available.  I know this isn't what you were asking for, but it directly affects the physical and mental condition of the patients when they finally come to you.

You have a great attitude and you will do well.  Thanks again for caring enough to ask.

[paddbear0000]

  Mr. B!  Your name makes me smile because our dog is named Boomer and I call him Mr. B sometimes! Anyway, welcome!

[Mr. B]

Black,

I too have heard do many bad things about centers. I really think that this can be improved. My goal is not to make dialysis pleasurable, but dang it, a huge part of dealing with a chronic illness is cognative & emotional. If we haven't figure out how to be be human to sick people in our center, I'll just go home. I am not a very religious person (I tend to act more Christian than "devout" Christians) and I don't know where my empathy comes from, but in many ways it's clear with a simple question: how would you or a family wish to be treated? As someone in healthcare administration, I stop & ask myself & my staff that question when I have to make a tough call. I have a boss (and owner) that supports this.

On the physical side, I have not heard anyone on this board talk about palliative care. If someone has had a palliative consult, let me know. In the mean time I am hooking up our brand spanking new neph with our palliative doc. I am going to give them some cash to come up with a program. Dialysis folks complain about a lot of physical symptoms in connection with dialysis. I simply don't believe that some of these can't be palliated. Palliation combined with a supportive center that strives to meet psycho-social needs is a road I am going to try. Oh, yes I intend on getting excellent equipment too.

[Hawkeye]

Hello and