ways to improve comfort in dialysis centers

[rockhound]

Just some thoughts about dialysis treatment ect, It is apparent to me that most patients sit and take what is dished out to them without a lot of complaint. The result is that the centers get away with poor treatment and poor condishions for the people. It is my thought that since they are making nice profits off of rooms full of dying patients who they can't cure. they should do their best to make the people as confortable as possible. I would like as many who are interested to give their ideas to makedialysis more confortable.  Thank you Rockhound in Midland Texas       

[dwcrawford]

Little Chair from the shop of horrors...  I know there are more comfortable, less back breaking chairs.  I have some at home actually. 

That's just a start... I have more.

[kimcanada]

have internet access, A person could run a business if they could get on the internet

[dwcrawford]

i've tried using my computer but it is so uncomfortable...  with one hand bleeding and the other in a bp cuff...

But may redesign the little table, huh.  I'm trying to figure it out.  Oh, Davita has wifi.

Limit the number of visitors and ask them not to walk around in the bay after they get there. 

[Hanify]

I had a sheepskin that I put on the chair first.  It made a huge difference to that 5 hours!

[dwcrawford]

what did the sheepskin do?  After 3 hours my back is so uncomfortable.  I've tried every pillow in my house (every size and shape.

[rockhound]

I agree the chairs are terrible, and I have found that no matter how much you comlain nothing is done, My other complained here at Midland is the lack of tv at the center, since  it was always poor but now it does not work at all at my center they need to fix the csble or get csble that actually works and add more tv sets. I offered to buy a set if they would insall it ps I could'nt afford it but they refused.

[dwcrawford]

we have good cable tv but no premium channels.  Just basic cable.  I always steal a movie the day before from the internet to watch on my laptop.  I wish they would make everyone use headphones.  Sometimes it gets really annoying with several channels going at the same time.

I wish that each patient and vistor (s)  were limited to one cell phone and they (visitors) couldn't conduct business on their  cell phone while in the treatment area.

I told you.  I could go on and on and on.

[Hanify]

The sheepskin made virtually no difference by hour 4-5.  But I certainly knew the difference when I forgot it.  I don't think there is a way to really make 5 hours in a recliner comfortable.

[dwcrawford]

fussing about it helps... and they should be able to start you and get you off in ten or fifteen minutes after your start time (it is stagged).  and not put you in the chair until they are ready for you.

[Rerun]

Manicures and Pedicures would be nice!  The techs have nothing else to do!

[dwcrawford]

and they should serve cocktails from the noontime coffee/sandwich cart.

[twirl]

most of our tv's will have no volumne without ear plugs-
if we have no ear plugs we have to get the captions -
and we cannot use the internet -- no lap tops
and sometimes to be mean I get out my cell phone and act like I am taking pictures -
you should see the looks I get

[Rerun]

Twirl you kill me!

                 

Wouldn't a little tiny cup of mocha or Caramel Macheito be nice. 

I guess I'm lucky to get 15ga needles and paper tape.   

[dwcrawford]

I did request a massage before...

[Hanify]

Actually massage is a really good idea.  The local cancer centre have a masseuse which is part funded by them - I might suggest the same to the kidney foundation people.  They could have a wandering masseuse to do arms and legs - where possible.  Shoulders might be a bit difficult too.  What a lovely thought.

[RichardMEL]

Every week or so we have a volunteer who comes around and does foot massages. She is pounced on by the old greek men and monopolised (I hate to think what their feet smell like?!?!!  ). Still it's a great idea. We're allowed laptops, so I always stock mine up with movies/tv shows to watch so I know it's stuff I probably will want to watch rather than stuck with the limited cable channels that are offered (tv's without sound unless one of the nurses enables it, usually when they want to watch the news or something). They have remote headphones to listen to the volume which some patients use. Other times I use an ipod and listen to podcasts. In general I think it is OK comfort wise.. remembering the chairs have their medical requirements too (as in you need to be able to get them in the different positions) and also be easily cleanable so it limits the coverings and so on that can be used.

I have a number of pillows I use which help, but like Hanify says between hour 4 and 5 it doesn't much matter what you use it will still be uncomfortable because you're sitting in the one spot for so long.

[dwcrawford]

yea it is  in the last hour where my back  feels like it is going to break in two.  i just wish they would serve lunch and cocktails on time.  maybe but a better brand of vodka for the bloody marys.

[Hanify]

And a stripper or something might take your mind off it.  Honestly, why son't these people think outside the box! lol

[dwcrawford]

Best way to improve comfort in the dialysis center is to go to the mall instead.

[twirl]

give us morphine

[Hanify]

Cannabis?  Oh, no, that would be smoking inside...cookies then!

[pamster42000]

I don't really have any complaints about the dialysis unit my daughter went to for treatment. She never complained about her chair, they had cable  tv for each patient, at one time they had warm blankets to use until some new law came in effect and the patients had to bring their own blankets but that was when she went to dialysis the second time. When She first started dialysis in 1992 I was able to sit with her through her whole treatment unless a person beside was being taking off, then I would have to leave the area. She recieved a transplant in 1993. When she started dialysis in 1999 I remeber they didn't want anyone sitting with patient during their session. You could come in and visit for a short period of time.  She recieved another transplant in Sept. of 2000. Upon returning to dialysis in late 2001 everything changed. You could no longer sit with family member because of HIPPA regulations.  ( She always took her cellphone though, so I could call her, if need be.) I always wondered though when the Dr. did rounds at the unit didn't the other patients hears what he was saying to you the patient and wasn't that a breach of the HIPPA act?  Sarah  complained to me  about when the Dr. came while she was on dialysis because she was usually sleeping. He would wake her up and not usually have anything to say and if he did say something she usually couldn't remember correctly because she was still half asleep. I don't remember the amount the Dr. gets paid for stopping by and saying hi...but I always thought it wasn't right.....and he sure took alot of vacations in one year. I  guess as time went by I did have compaints at least about the Dr., not the unit.

[Savemeimdtba]

When I went to hemo we all had our own TV's with direcTV and internet access on them (as well as games and Fresenius learning videos ).  We were allowed laptops and cell phones.. not really anything we weren't allowed to have.  I always watched movies on my laptop 'cause even with a zillion channels - there's not much on that I want to watch at noon - 4pm on a weekday.  My only complaint with my dialysis center was slowness, sometimes i'd sit there for 2 to 3 hours before being called back into the area and then another hour waiting to be hooked up.. it was horrible. 

[hurlock1]

Just some thoughts about dialysis treatment etc, It is apparent to me that most patients sit and take what is dished out to them without a lot of complaint. The result is that the centers get away with poor treatment and poor condishions for the people. It is my thought that since they are making nice profits off of rooms full of dying patients who they can't cure. they should do their best to make the people as confortable as possible. I would like as many who are interested to give their ideas to makedialysis more confortable.  Thank you Rockhound in Midland Texas     

In just a few sentences you've insulted the dialysis clinics and the patients! " It is apparent to me that most patients sit and take what is dished out to them" and then, "they are making nice profits off of rooms full of dying patients who they can't cure"! For one thing, I AM NOT A DYING PATIENT! At my center, They DO everything possible to make us as comfortable. The chairs could be more comfortable. I bring a couple of pillows, one to sit on  , and one for my lower back.
If I were you, I'd be careful about what I said, but maybe at your clinic the people ARE dying. Maybe YOU should do something to make yourself more comfortable. A little kindness and politeness goes a long way.       It might help if you were to pay some attention to how busy the caregiver are. Maybe get a container to bring water with you so you don't have to ask them to bring water. On this planet people are people.