3 Easy Steps to Switch to Home Dialysis

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or diagnosis from a physician.

Step 1

Talk to your doctor to find out if you are a candidate for home dialysis. Guidelines for your discussion:

  • Be open and honest about what is important to you.
  • If you want to continue working, avoid transportation hassles, or stay away from needles, tell your doctor.
  • Nine out of 10 kidney doctors would choose home dialysis for themselves. Ask your doctor why.
  • Understand that your medical condition, motivation, age, lifestyle and home environment are considerations.
  • Your doctor will refer you to a home training nurse if home dialysis is an option for you.

Step 2

Choose the home treatment method (home hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) that fits your health and lifestyle needs.

Considerations for HHD

Considerations for PD
  • Patients perform treatments on their own schedules.
  • PD is the most popular form of home dialysis.
  • A home training nurse will guide you and your care partner.
  • PD uses the abdominal lining, the peritoneum, to clean your blood.
  • You will need a care partner to assist you.
  • PD patients dialyze every day with little or no assistance from others.
  • A permanent vascular access will be surgically created.
  • A catheter must be placed into your abdomen and takes 2 to 3 weeks to heal.
  • If your access is an arteriovenous (AV) fistula, it can take several weeks to several months to develop.
  • A home dialysis training nurse will teach you.
  • HHD training with a home dialysis training nurse usually takes 3 to 6 weeks.
  • PD training usually takes 2 weeks.
  • Training stops when you’re ready.

 

Step 3

Call 1-800-244-0582 to schedule a personal consultation with a registered nurse.

  • Your personalized care team includes your nephrologist, your home training nurse, a registered DaVita® dietitian and social worker.
  •  Visits to DaVita centers for you to meet with your entire care team face-to-face are scheduled at least once a month.
  • With DaVita, you are never alone.

Get Free Kidney-Friendly Cookbooks

1,000,000+ Enjoyed So Far!
GET MY FREE COOKBOOK

Explore Home Dialysis Options

Get to know the many benefits of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and home hemodialysis (HHD).

LEARN ABOUT HOME
Woman using a laptop while sitting at her dining room table

Learn to manage your kidney health.

Learn to manage your kidney health.

Get your questions answered in a no-cost Kidney Smart® class.

FIND A CLASS

Find a Dialysis Center

Call 1-800-424-6589 now to talk to one of our placement specialists.

SEARCH NOW

Take a Deeper Look at Treatment & Services

Dialysis Treatments

Get an overview about different dialysis treatments and how they help people continue a productive life.

Home Dialysis

Understand the benefits of home dialysis, whether it’s peritoneal dialysis (PD) or home hemodialysis (HHD).

Insurance Coverage for Dialysis

When you are diagnosed with kidney disease and need dialysis or a transplant, you’ll want to understand your insurance options, how to receive financial assistance and more.

Prescription Management

Understand how to keep track of your prescribed medications.

Travel Support

From tips to helping set up treatments when you travel, DaVita has resources to keep you on the move.

Emergency Services

When you need emergency support or dialysis placement, look no further than DaVita® Guest Services.

Quality Programs

See how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recognized many DaVita centers with top marks in its Five-Star Quality Rating program.

Better Care with DaVita

With a kidney disease diagnosis, what do you do next? Find your way to better care in 3 steps.