DCI dialysis

[Lillupie]

Has anyone heard of or been to a DCI dialysis? Do you know anything about them? I know they are independant/non-profit.

Im going to a new clinic because i finally was able move down to Tennessee to be with my husband. So I have a choice of Davita and this DCi.  Buut DCI doesnt want me to come in and meet and talk to the staff before I transfer, they just want me to transfer my medical records.

I already met people at the Davita close by.

Anyone been to a DCI clinic?

Lisa

[willowtreewren]

Lisa, we went to a DCI clinic in Knoxville and LOVED them. They really seemed to care about both of us as individuals. We even go back to visit since Carl's transplant.

Aleta

[Bill Peckham]

Have you compared their Dialysis Facility Reports? http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=21352.0

[bleija]

i switched to a DCI clinic and loved it, all my appointments were there. i never waited more than 10 mins to see the dr on my appointments. i loved my nurses and talked to the dietician and social worker every vist.

[amanda100wilson]

Oh, how I wish that I could switch to a non profit.

[plugger]

If you are looking for the bottom line on DCI, this pretty much sums it up for me:

http://dialysisethics2.org/open_images/DCI_mortality_hosp_364.jpg

[Joe]

That makes it pretty clear Plugger.

[Lillupie]

Plugger, are you trying to tell me that DCI has the lowest hospitalization compared to Davita and other for-profit organizations???

Lisa

[noahvale]

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[Lillupie]

Plugger, are you trying to tell me that DCI has the lowest hospitalization compared to Davita and other for-profit organizations???

Lisa

And, a personal observation, I wouldn't feel comfortable with a facility that won't allow a potential patient to walk through the clinic and meet the staff without having to transfer medical records first.  A referral from your nephrologist should be sufficient.

BINGO. I had to talk to the social worker on the phone for over 30 min at the DCI clinic. She kept telling me to send my medical records over. And Im like I cant go into a clinic blind. I know a lot of patients (which clinics like) have the attitude 'put me anywhere, I dont care as long as Im alive'. And doctors like to have the attitude, "this is what time you come in, this is this, and dont question me, IM KEEPING YOU ALIVE". Which is fine and dandy. Im not that type of patient. I have to know before walking into a clinic that if Im going to be their patient I can work with them as a TEAM, not "you do what I say".
 The DCI clinic is actually a little better then the Davita. I just cant understand why I cant go and check out DCI before I send them my medical records

[cattlekid]

I am having a sneaking suspicion that they may want to cherry pick the best patients to keep their stats up.  If you look like you might be trouble (medically speaking), they may tell you that they don't have a space for you once they see your records. 

Anyhow, I hope that isn't the case but you never know.

[bleija]

id say just go in, talk to the nurses and see if they will let u... maybe if u show up in person they wont turn u away. once they see ur young and stuff

[plugger]

I've watched this for 12 years now and every reputable article I've seen has the non-profits kicking the beejeebies out the for-profits when it comes to care, starting with the New England Journal of Medicine and John Hopkins back in 2000: http://www.dialysisethics2.org/index.php/Our-Concerns/new-england-journal-of-medicine-and-john-hopkins-on-for-profit-dialysis.html - I would be surprised if much has changed.

But that being said, it is possible to have a lousy clinic in an over-all good company so I would be careful.  But if everything looks equal, my advice would be to go for the non-profit.

I'll also say besides dialysis, the same trend seems to hold for hospitals and nursing homes - for-profits don't stack-up when it comes to care.

[jeannea]

I think you're right about the big for profits being worse than the non profits. But there are exceptions esp if it's not a chain. My clinic is for profit but that just means the doctors in the practice get the profits. They are good doctors who make sure we get good care and I agree they need to earn a living for all the hours they put in there. I think all you can do is evaluate that clinic and those doctors. Unfortunately, a lot of us don't even have choices within a drivable distance.

[plugger]

I think you're right about the big for profits being worse than the non profits. But there are exceptions esp if it's not a chain. My clinic is for profit but that just means the doctors in the practice get the profits.

I'm glad you pointed that out!  Back in the day, one of the clinics I admired most was Lynchburg Nephrology in Virginia led by Dr. Robert Lockridge, a leader in slow nocturnal dialysis.  It turns out they were a small for-profit.  So yes, all for-profits aren't built the same.  I worry when they go public and start dancing for investors.

 I just cant understand why I cant go and check out DCI before I send them my medical records

I must admit I was a bit surprised by this at first.  But I do have a theory.  I do know davita loves their lawyers and does love to tangle with the under-gunned competition and their doctors: http://www.dialysisethics2.org/index.php/More-Featured-Items/davita-proves-need-for-stark-law.html.  Possibly DCI is trying to avoid a fight with davita?  If they felt DCI was courting their patients, they might respond in their usual bullying fashion.  However if you just got up and left, it would be hard to prove you were influenced by DCI.

If you are interested in DCI maybe it would be good to visit one of their nephrologists?

[dialysisadvocate]

I would wonder why you could not meet the staff before hand. When  a new patient is starting dialysis, as far as I know they can visit the unit -- (we did this and I know others have)... Why would they NOT want you to come to the unit and meet the staff --- Most of the data, that on www.propublica.org/dialysis and CMS' dialysis facility compare is not up to date such as was mentioned by another poster --- my concern is that they are not encouraging you to come and meet the staff prior to being their patient ----
Each and every facility is unique (often) to their self ......................meaning, some FMC units are great, some are terrible, some Davita units are good, others are terrible and so forth and so on ---------------------... I have found that staff can vary greatly from unit to unit --

Curious - did you ask why you can't visit the unit before sending your medical records? If so, what was their response?
Roberta Mikles BA RN
Dialysis Patient Safety Advocate
www.qualitysafepatientcare.com

[Lillupie]

I would wonder why you could not meet the staff before hand. When  a new patient is starting dialysis, as far as I know they can visit the unit -- (we did this and I know others have)... Why would they NOT want you to come to the unit and meet the staff --- Most of the data, that on www.propublica.org/dialysis and CMS' dialysis facility compare is not up to date such as was mentioned by another poster --- my concern is that they are not encouraging you to come and meet the staff prior to being their patient ----
Each and every facility is unique (often) to their self ......................meaning, some FMC units are great, some are terrible, some Davita units are good, others are terrible and so forth and so on ---------------------... I have found that staff can vary greatly from unit to unit --

Curious - did you ask why you can't visit the unit before sending your medical records? If so, what was their response?
Roberta Mikles BA RN
Dialysis Patient Safety Advocate
www.qualitysafepatientcare.com

I totally agree with you that every center is different. I have learned that. I also do notice there are centers that do not care to let patients tour their facility for whatever reason.
 To answer your question. I was just encouraged by the social worker to send in my records and  then I can meet them. I explained to her that it was important for me to meet the people Im going to be working with, I dont care to have to leave this facility once I get started there. I know that every center has different rules, such as EPO, some centers allow you to take it home, others make you drive there. Some centers force all PD cycler patients to do a midday, etc. And some doctors have the attitude "im keeping you alive, you do what I say". I NEED to be able to be able to come to an agreement not just to obey. I need to be able to work with the nurses, and doctor as a team, not have a doctor who is going to run me with an iron fist.
 I just want to know what Im getting into. Once I get somewhere and build a reputation, I dont care to start new again, nor do I care to have a meeting with the staff wondering why I want to leave. So if I know ahead of time that working as a team is not going to work for me, I am NOT going to transfer my records over.

 This situation isnt new. For about a year in Michigan I drove 1 hour to get to my clinic. For the last few months I started looking for a clinic closer to my home. (I really wasnt sure if I could move outside of Michigan). One clinic I called and they flat out told me "no, we dont have time for a meet and greet, and have my doctor send over my medical records". I almost contacted Medicare over that.

I hate to compare this, but looking for a dialysis center is almost like trying to find a nursing home for your parents. You want the best, and to be treated well. And not to go into a place blind.

Lisa

[lmunchkin]

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[lmunchkin]

Lisa, although we do not diaylsis with DCI in South Nashville (although John did for the weeks of my ankle recovery) but his Neph is the Directory of it, and I will ask her what their rules at her clinic is on meeting staff before a final decision.  I don't see why they wouldnt let you, but there again, I do not know.  If you like, I will ask..  I can text her and she will get back with me as long as she is not on vacation.

Is your husband in Fort Campbell around Clarksville or where in Tenn?  I would love to meet up with you sometime.

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[dialysisadvocate]

In this world of healthcare it is certainly shameful that if a patient wants to have treatment at a unit that they can not meet staff prior to ---- in no other area of healthcare does this type of behavior/thinking exisit -- dialysis centers are certainly unique unto their own selves
roberta mikles www.qualitysafepatientcare.com