Remote monitoring of nocturnal dialysis

[kyshiag]

Anyone ever hear of this? or use this?

http://www.rubindialysis.org/homeTherapy.html

Keshia

[jeannea]

Never heard of it. And I can't really tell what they do, I guess I can't get the website to work right. Do they really have 24 hour people watching your numbers through some remote computer? Or do you just enter your numbers? Kinda freaks me out a little.

[Desert Dancer]

I don't really see any practical use for this. If there's some kind of emergency, or alarms going off, you still need to engage your own brain and know how to deal with the situation on the ground. I think if you have to be told there's a problem and/or walked through how to solve it, maybe home dialysis isn't for you (the general you, not specifically you).

[kyshiag]

From what I can tell, it also allows those with no helper to be able to do home dialysis.  I'm also guessing that they could send the paramedics in the case of you appearing to be passed out.  It would also be nice to know that someone could remotely turn the machine off if needed.  I think it would also be especially nice for people who are new to home dialysis

[lmunchkin]

I can see your interest in this, Kyshiag.  But as someone who does her husbands dialysis (NxStage) at home, I have the obtion to hook up to Nxstage so that they can monitor, but I choose not to.  We did at first so that if we had problems, they would have a visual. But we have never had to use it.

Now with that being said, if you are gonna be on your own, I would definately hook up to the Central station.  But if something serious were to happen, you do not want them to stop machine remotely.  Someone would have to be there to correct the situation.  There has to be a "PERSON" there.  To just remotely shut the machine down, would probably be the worst thing ever, IMO, cause what happens to all that "good" blood in the tubes and filter?  If machine was shut off for any small amount of time, then blood would be to thick to return to the body.  That would be devastating IMHO.

Im not really sure that they can do that remotely anyway.  I don't say this to scare you.  That is not my intent.  I just want you to understand how home hemo works and how it can really help those who need it!

Hope this helps, Kyshiag!

God Bless,
lmunchkin
 

[Meinuk]

The Rubin Center is a good program in NY State.  I interviewed with them when my unit was closed, but at the time, they were not in my insurance "Network", so I went with a different center. (related story below)

Remote monitoring is just like telemetry in a hospital, they are watching you, in a hospital, they could run to your room if needed.  In this situation, if there is an emergency, 911 has to be called. If you live alone, remote monitoring takes the burden off of you to call 911.

The way I looked at it, as long as I was able to dialyzes alone at home, I would jump through any hoop that was set in front of me.  Rubin also offered this for Nocturnal, which really is the best possible home hemodialysis, it is longer and slower. Iif home monitoring is the only way that people can get the best possible dialysis, I say go for it.


Now about my last facility (I was transplanted two months after I became their home patient).  Last October, we got a new puppy.  Yesterday, I took her to the dog park for the first time. People were nice, the puppy was a bit timid but she played.  Then one woman came in with a big scary rottweiler.  She and the dog were intimidating, but nice (the dog is really a sweetheart). 

I stood near her as we watched the dogs.  Soon enough, she was on the phone calling in a scrip for Renvela.  My ears perked up, and I smiled.  But I didn't say anything.  Finally, after 10 mins, we started talking about bringing our dogs to work, and I laughed and said that there was no way that I could take my puppy to work.  She laughed too and said she can't because part of her practice is in dialysis units.  I laughed.  Then I introduced myself.  She said, "I know your name".  I replied "well, I was your patient for two months".  It is a very small world.