PREPARATION FOR HAEMODIALYSIS
A patient and their family need to plan well in advance about carrying out haemodialysis. Once doctor confirms that dialysis has to be started, the first time dialysis must be done very carefully. With AV fistula in place, it is less complicated to carry out dialysis. A sponge ball may be pumped around 100-300 times a day to strengthen the fistula.
The next step is to identify the hospital where one would like to carry out dialysis. People who get subsidy from mediclaim/ cghs/state health schemes/ others should definitely opt for the empanelled hospitals. List of empanelled hospitals are nowadays available in various websites. We shall try to incorporate the same in this website in due course of time.
It is advisable to opt for a dialysis centre which is close to one’s house. A dialysis centre may be identified based on hygiene factor, availability of good technicians, availability of nephrologists, etc.
Appointment may be made with hospital authorities to complete paper works relating to subsidy/ cashless facility as per eligibility of the patient. It is advisable if an informed person visits the hospital for such work along with the patient to carry out the formalities without any hassles. The hospital will issue a hospital card for identification of the patient and a dialysis diary which has to be produced every time a patient goes for dialysis. CGHS patients also require to produce a certificate issued by CGHS for carrying out dialysis for a certain no. of weeks which has to be renewed timely failing which one has to pay from own pocket to carry out dialysis in the empanelled hospital even if the patient is undergoing the same for years together.
It is better to keep the documents in a small folder to be carried to the hospital for dialysis. It is advisable that the patient is accompanied by someone while going to and returning from hospital as it gives mental strength to the patient. Also, sometimes some medicines, catheter etc may have to be purchased from medical store then and there which may be difficult for the patient to do on his/ her own.
The dialysis diary is used to record the details of each dialysis including duration, weight, BP, etc pre, post and during dialysis to monitor the condition of the patient. In case complications arise in patients dialysis is paused for a while and then resumed again.