urgent: question for those doing extended nocturnal

[amanda100wilson]

several months ago I switched dialysis units as I want to do extended dialysis.
my medical reason for doing this is that I have left ventricular hypertrophy
(LVH). it had all been agreed that I could do it. the other week, I went to an
open house for a. new clinic that my doctor was opening. corporate DSI were
there and I met them and talked to them. this is where there was a turnaround.
the Redsense detector request was denied, and the heparin pump was inexplicably
denied.

my nurse has been dealing with the Home Program Manager who haf agreed with the
extended dialysis. However, all of a sudden, she finds out that someone higher
in the chain is making decisions about this, and at this level (I believe that
she is one down from the CEO) as either her and/or the CEO has called a halt to
my doing extended. allegedly, the purchasing manager had questioned the
purchase of the heparin pump, because of its cost. my nurse said that it is not
to do with the cost of such items, but rsther that they are not willing to
accept liability. my understanding is that the doctor signs it off label, and
that the liability rests with him

they are having an advisory board meeting about it. my doctor is pn the
advisory board but I am hoping thst they will let me attend to put my case to
them.

my nurse wants to contact any doctors who are running extended programs. i
would be extremely grateful if you could provide me with the mame and contact
details of your doctors, clinic and contact numbers for them.

also, can you advise me on the legality of this?

i am really upset. I gave up an afternoon of my tie to attend the Open House
and talk about NxStage, and I am pretty sure that there is a link with this,
since it has all happened since then, and started to happen ver soon after. i
wonder if there is a little more at play here than what they are claiming, and
certainly hope that this isn't just a personal issue relating to when they met
me.

thanks in advance for your replies.

Amanda

[Bill Peckham]

Northwest Kidney Centers Home Hemo Program's main number is 206-292-2558. Dr. Bob Winrow is the Medical Director, his practice's main number is 206-386-9500

I don't think there is a liability issue at least not more of one that exists whether you dialyze incenter or at home. The FDA approval guides how a device (or drug) can be marketed. FDA approval doesn't confer any sort of liability protection.

Personally I see leak detectors as state of the art security theater - it is thoroughly fixing a problem that doesn't really exist - so that doesn't bother me as much as just not providing you with your preferred modality.