Hello Everyone

[Oldtech]

I just found this site and first off I want to say I am not a dialysis patient.  I have worked in dialysis for almost 30 years as a regional technical manager.  I quit last year to start my own technical consulting business.  My wife is a nurse manager at a nationally known dialysis orginazation.  I told my wife about this site and we both started reading your forums.  We think this site is a great. 

I grew up in the dialysis.  I started working in the field in 1977 when I was 18 years old in Chattanooga, TN.  My mother is a retired dialysis nurse and my middle son also works in dialysis.  It's a family affair with us and we care deeply about all of our patients.  I know why the Good Lord kept my wife and myself in dialysis all these years.  Someone has to fight for the patients when their in our centers.  There are too many persons working in this field that just want their next paycheck.  It's one of the reasons I quit.  It got to where we couldn't take care of the patients anymore because of all the political BS we had to deal with.  A lot of people call me "old school" and I'm very proud of that.  I miss the good old days and I miss my patients.  We grew up together and raised our families together.  Anyway, I just wanted to say hello and we will be reading about and learning from you guys so we can take what we've learned back to the facilities to better help our patients.

Keep up the great work and we would be happy to answer any questions you guys may have from our side.  We're learning right along with you.

[Epoman]

Awesome, this is great. I love to see people who really care about making a difference in other peoples lives. But you are so right, a lot of nurses now a days are just there for a paycheck. You are more than welcomed here. In fact we will be featured in the August issue of "Nephrology News & Issues". Here is a link to the .PDF http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=922.0 We will also be hitting our 10,000 post before our 1 year anniversary. Plus a few surprises are coming for our members. Also do you know about the NxStage machine, if you like check out our sister site http://ilovenxstage.com

Welcome to the site and it would be great if you will share your years of experience with us by answering some members questions.

- Epoman
Owner/Admin

[goofynina]

Welcome Oldtech,  We look forward to hearing more from you.  Please feel free to read through the thousands of posts and feel free to add to them, any questions, comments or concerns you may have.  I am sure we can learn from you just as much as you can learn from us,  i (we) look forward to hearing more from you........I know you will enjoy your stay

[Bajanne]

Adding my welcome.  I appreciate the kind comments concerning our site and I look forward to your contibutions

My wife is a nurse manager at a nationally known dialysis orginazation.  I told my wife about this site and we both started reading your forums.
I grew up in the dialysis.  I started working in the field in 1977 when I was 18 years old in Chattanooga, TN.  My mother is a retired dialysis nurse and my middle son also works in dialysis.  It's a family affair with us and we care deeply about all of our patients.

This is truly amazing.  I know we have a lot to gain from your joining us.  Your wife, and son, aswell are all welcome to join and share with us.

[Mom3]

Welcome! Looking forward to learning more about how things have changed! 

Mother of dialysis pt and a PKD pt,

Mom 3

[Oldtech]

Thank you everyone.  I look forward to sharing with you.

[Joe Paul]

Welcome Oldtech..I will look forward to reading about "The old days" too, as I am new to dialysis, only 4 months old.

[JerseyGirl]

Oldtech I too am an oldie but goodie - after 13 years of running a for profit clinic I was absolutely tired of towing the corporate line and decided to go back to the reason why I got into nursing - patient care.  My past experience in management, however, gives me alittle insight in how to get around reimbursement issues, corporate issues, etc and I use that experience every day to get the patients what they want-within reason of course!  So after 20 years in hemo and now PD I am pretty well versed on current dialysis issues.  It's all a game with them...but I could play the game better...tee-hee!

[angieskidney]

Welcome OldTech .. do you still live in Chattanooga, TN ?

[Sluff]

Welcome OldTech.

[BigSky]

Welcome aboard.

[Oldtech]

Yes, I still live in the Chattanooga area and I know exactly what JerseyGirl means.  After awhile of playing corporates games you realize the only way to get what you need for the patients is to do it anyway and ask for forgiveness later.

Thanks again for making me feel so welcome and I will respond to any questions posted to me.

[Rerun]

Welcome Oldtech.  Do you remember the Drake Willock (SP) machines.  I'm sure you do.  I had one at home.  We would store the lines and dialyzer in fermalthide.   

Welcome to the site.

[JerseyGirl]

I remember the old Drakes, we used to inject an air bubble, measure the speed it travelled up the line and time it for blood pump speed. Negative pressure gauges floating up to 450, trying not to suck the patient dry.  If you didn't do your half hour machine checks religiously you could cause some serious damage!  Remember acetate dialysate?  YUCK!

[deej]

Welcome Oldtech. I´m sure your experience will be appreciated here.

[kevno]

Welcome Oldtech. I just started dialysis in 1977 at the age of ten, we used Lucas Machines and Keele Kidneys. Which I used to help make up with the socket set. Mine was a baby keele only four feet long. The old machines used to make you crash very quickly. Plus they had two pumps, so if the needle blew your arm blew up like a balloon. I have many issues with the old days on haemo, now I know it was for my own good. But at the age of ten you do not know what is happening to you. Anyway once again welcome to the site. I hope we can have a chat some day.

Kevno