Did You All Get To Choose......

[MissyKew]

what shift and what days you wanted to go to dialysis?  When I was about to start dialysis and the hospital set it up for me, they asked me what my preference of days were and what my shift preference was.   Since I am not a morning person I told them midday or even late afternoon would be my preference.  So, I wait and get word back that i would be on the morning shift and I had to be ready to get my ride to dialysis at 6 am.  This means being up at 5 am at the latest.  As I found out later, as I was getting into dialysis, that there really is no choice of schedule.  You are stuck with am treatment.  Everything seems to be done by some seniority list right down to when you are taken in and hooked up to your machine.  So, if you come in to the facility as early as 6:15 and someone comes in after you that has more "seniority" then they will be taken in first to be set up.  I blew my stack one day when the guy I was riding with was taken in and people who arrived after us was taken in and I set there waiting for 45 minutes to be hooked up.  I was pissed and made a to-do about it and they started making sure that when I got in early with the other guy, we went in at the same time.  Now, to change shifts, there is some mystery list someplace that they will put your name on it to change, but I have a feeling, as I have seen no no movement of anyone from shift to shift in the time I have been there, that the list is fictitious or you have to cross someone's palm with gold.  i have heard rumored that there are people on other shifts who would like to change to am, but no signs of anyone trying to arrange time swaps with patients.  Is this the same everywhere?

[okarol]

When my daughter was on dialysis I pretty much dealt with this issue for her. I have learned since then that we may have gotten some preferred treatment because she is a hipper - having private insurance as well as medicare, which brings in more $$$ for the center (it was an independent clinic, not a chain.) We asked for and were given the time we requested, which was afternoon. In the 3 years she was on dialysis we were able to change if needed, like when she started school and needed to do the evening shift. If she ever had to wait I would know when I came to pick her up because she wouldn't be ready to leave, and I would ask the head nurse what happened. I think they pretty much wanted to avoid conflict with me because my husband or I would call the doctor/part-owner and ask for help.

[boswife]

When my hubby just started, the only time slot was in the afternoon.  We are both morning people and it seemed to take our whole day.  He got on a "wish list" for the morning slot and within a couple of weeks he got the shift he wanted.  We are so happy with this, and it seems that except for not being able to up and leaving town when we want, it's much less restrictive to our life style. So for here, there is options. 

[murf]

When I first started hemo, I was allocated the 6.30am spot. That meant getting up at 4.30am for shower, preparation of Emla cream and travel. I hated it but put up with it for 12 months. After depression had set in, I decided to fib a little. I told the admin that I needed to go back to relief work for a while to help out the finances so I needed a late session. I kept this charade up for another twelve months, occasionally giving tidbits about work. Luckily, I changed hospitals and have been on the late shift since.

[YLGuy]

I have very specific time needs being a single dad of 3.  The center I am at, I changed to.  I "reserved" my chair before I got there.  They knew the only way I was going to change to their center was if I got my particular time slot.  Do you have other centers near you?  Maybe you can inquire if they have a chair available that better suits you.

[Rerun]

Welcome to the "Best Health Care System in the World"

                                   

And guess what?  Even if you have 5 health insurance plans it gets you no priority!  They do what they want and if you bring food they get you on.  I refuse!  What you can do if they get you on late is drag your feet leaving.  Then they have to stay late.  They hate that!

You can talk to your nephrologist or the director, but good luck.

[lizabee]

I did not get to set the days or time in the beginning, my center is only open M, W, F and they gave me the late shift, which I hated.  Once I was established I was able to change my time since I have a school age child that I have to get to and from school every day.  I now go at 730 in the morning, right after I drop her off at the busstop.  They are also really good about changing times if need be. 

[Maker]

Well, I'm no expert since I'm new to this too...but my center tried to put me on the 6AM but they found a place for me at 3 pm when I explained the disruption to my work schedule that early shift would be.  If you think there are late people who want to be early, I would push the issue with the director of your center...repeatedly if you have to.  Dialysis is such a disruption in our lives anyway, and even more so if the timing isn't convenient for you   

I also wondered how they decided who gets to go in first when there's like 8 of us in the waiting room, but my nurse told me it really has to do with when the chair they've assigned for you opens up.  One thing I like is that I usually get the same nurse so that's another factor, when she's available to bring me back.  But I appreciate it anyway even if I have to wait for her because she knows me and my specifics   

Dialysis requires much patience, doesn't it? Hang in there and good luck getting your times changed!

[jessshar]

When my father started back in Feb. 2009 the hospital also made his arrangements for T TH Sat from 2pm-6pm. And they also told us there was no way to change his times he went in. At first it worked out well but after awhile it started messing with sleep. He would come home after treatment, eat dinner go to bed by nine or ten completely wiped out. But then at three in the morning he was up bright eyed and bushy tailed!!! Some times he would wake me up but most of the time he would not. This worried me because he is at risk for falls. Plus then he would try to sleep all the next day. It was all screwed up.

After explaining to them what was going on they told me they had a "wish list" of times we would like to have. We could have his name placed on the list and if a spot opened up they would call us and see if we are still interested. I choose the late shift M W F from 7pm to 11pm. Within a week I got a call back. My dad was on the fence about the new time so I got them to agree to a week trial period to see how it worked. So far it has worked great. We have been at our new time for three weeks now. I guess we have been lucky.

I am very new to this awsome site so I really dont feel qualified to give any advice. Keep trying. Keep asking. I have learned more by coming here and looking for the answers then I ever would have by asking or waiting for the dialysis facility to tell or help me. Dont give up.

[MissyKew]

I swear the whole system is set up to challenge us in anyway possible.  The man who rides with me to dialysis is 95 years old.  can you imagine they make a 95 yo man get up at the crack of dawn to go to dialysis?  he has said that he would like to change shifts, but there is no sign of it happening.  He is a dear man and he has the patience of a saint....

Okarol...I have noticed that there are people who do seem to get preferential treatment.  There are two women who come in for ten O'Clock (after all of us got our butts in there early) .  They are often put in my row of chairs.  They have a problem with the fact that I won't just hand over the TV remote to them when they arrive.  If I walk in the room and settle in and someone else is watching something, I don't expect them to change the channel.  For some reason, these two women do.  I hate seeing them come in.  The tension in me goes up.

Lizabee...we have a guy who is always late because of his children, so he says.  The techs and nurses don't cut him much slack though.

Thanks Rerun...LOL!  I have been in the medical system since the age of about five.  It sucks.

Murf...the next closest center is in Portland, a 45 minute drive from me.  The other center available is in the next state over.

Glad to hear your wish list worked boswife...

It is frustrating.  I took a sleeping pill to sleep last night as i can't sleep because I am always anticipating getting up in the morning and not being late.  I can't sleep in dialysis, it is too noisy.  I just had my fistula worked on, so I come home and take pain meds for it.  Round about 1:30 I crash and sleep till 8:30.  There goes the whole freaken day anyway....sigggghhhh....