Who Will Be Caring for Me?

Nephrologist

Chances are good that you already have a nephrologist assigned to you. If you were admitted to the hospital, a consult was made with a nephrologist who directed your care. That same nephrologist will continue with your care, making rounds at the dialysis units. You may also have appointments at your nephrologist’s office. The nephrologist prescribes the orders for your dialysis treatments and is the only one who can make any changes. Some nephrologists have nurse practitioners who make rounds, and any of your questions for the physician can be discussed with the nurse practitioner.

Primary Nurse

Each patient is assigned a primary nurse who will oversee the patient’s treatment and plans of care. Your primary nurse doesn’t necessarily provide you with your treatment each time you have dialysis; an associate nurse may care for you. As mentioned previously, labs, education, foot checks, and medication reconciliation are done on a monthly basis and overseen by your primary nurse. Any questions you may have about your treatment can be directed to your primary nurse.

Social Worker

You will be assigned a primary social worker who can provide assistance to you and your family in adjusting to kidney disease and helping you maintain an optimal quality of life. The social worker can assist you with changes you experience in the home, workplace, and community. He or she can help you plan a treatment schedule that fits your lifestyle, help schedule travel plans, and identify supportive resources to meet your needs. The social worker is available to help with any other issues or concerns as they arise, so please feel free to contact them.

Dieticians

Part of your responsibility during dialysis involves making adjustments in your eating habits to prevent a dangerous build up of toxins. A dietitian will work with you to individualize your nutrition care plan, educate you and your family about diet changes, and review your monthly lab work with you. Your dietitian will help you adjust to your diet while addressing your individual nutritional needs.

Care Attendants

Care attendants are assigned to the same area in the center daily. They are attentive to the needs of the patients and nurses. Any questions asked of them will be directed to the nurse.

Other Providers

There are many people who work at the dialysis center to ensure its smooth operation. They are secretaries, biomedical technicians, a financial coordinator, and unit managers.

Dialysis Bio-Med Team

Our dialysis bio-med team is comprised of three certified dialysis technicians with more than 30 years combined technical experience, as well as a certified water technician. Their mission is to ensure that all dialysis-related equipment is operating optimally at all times to provide our patients the best care available.

Your safety and well-being are of the utmost importance. Our team of dedicated professionals works diligently to ensure that the stringent standards of the Department of Health, as well as our organization, are always met. Some of the steps taken to ensure adherence to these guidelines include detailed inspections, evaluations and any equipment repairs required.