Covid-19 and dialysis

[Alexysis]

A question crossed my mind the other day; how would I do dialysis if I have to quarantine? Would I have to do it at a hospital, or would my dialysis clinic create a quarantine area? As it is, we are all wearing surgical masks the entire time we are inside the clinic now. My clinic has 2 'isolation' seats, but those are specifically for those with hepatitis, so there is probably no way they could be re-purposed. Has anybody addressed this scenario at their own clinic?

[Paul]

I'm guessing this will vary from country to country and from clinic to clinic within each country, but at my clinic (UK -NHS) the rule is: "Stay at home, telephone the NHS via their non emergency help line, then contact the clinic who will arrange home dialysis for you."

[jambo101]

I'm wondering how im supposed to self isolate from the virus when i have to go to the hospital for a dialysis session 4 times a week.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

This is probably irrelevant but the province of Manitoba on a televised news conference today give guidance for cancer clinic and dialysis patients.

They advised that hemo in hospital sessions are to proceed normally but if you feel ill to contact the clinic (which is a renal unit in hospital), they would make arrangements and then further plans. That is at least the plan for now until I guess things (hopefully not) get worse. Just food for thought.

[Paul]

I'm wondering how im supposed to self isolate from the virus when i have to go to the hospital for a dialysis session 4 times a week.[/size]

Home heamo. (or home PD if that is your thing).

[jambo101]

I'm wondering how im supposed to self isolate from the virus when i have to go to the hospital for a dialysis session 4 times a week.[/size]

Home heamo. (or home PD if that is your thing).

you dont just switch to home hemo on a whim,it takes months of training and setup.

[Paul]

you dont just switch to home hemo on a whim,it takes months of training and setup.

Sorry, I probably used too few words to express an idea that probably needed more details:

In Britain the intention is (though not yet proven in practice) that you will self isolate, and a nurse will visit you regularly with a portable (?) heamo dialysis machine and she will do the same job as she would have done in hospital, but either in your bedroom or in an ambulance parked outside.

[Cupcake]

I think I read somewhere that dialysis patients with COVID19 were supposed to be dialyzed in the hospital where they could use a negative air flow room/isolation. But of course access to those may run out.

I feel like a gopher; I stay inside and plot my errands; pop out and run like crazy hoping to pop back in before any germs find me. I'm still snowbirding in Florida but really don't want to go home to Illinois any time soon as it will include a night in a hotel enroute. Plus the pool at home is closed but still open here.

[Simon Dog]

you dont just switch to home hemo on a whim,it takes months of training and setup.

More like two weeks if you learn fast, 4 if you don't, not counting time to get on the clinic's patient training schedule and have the machine delivered.

[Tío Riñon]

Just happened upon this article about COVID-19 and dialysis patients: 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/dialysis-patients-are-at-high-risk-during-covid-19-outbreak/2020/03/24/6e69f908-6aa7-11ea-b313-df458622c2cc_story.html

Some interesting comments/observations below the article too.

What do you think about this resource page from the National Kidney Foundation?
https://www.kidney.org/newsletter/staying-safe-during-dialysis-and-covid-19-outbreak

Any thoughts about the shelter-in-place orders (or lack thereof for those whose gov. don't see the need)?

[enginist]

A story in the NYT on the dire dialysis shortages. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/health/coronavirus-dialysis-death.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage