What is Home Hemodialysis?

Hemodialysis is when an artificial kidney is used to remove waste and extra chemicals and fluid from your blood. Home Hemodialysis is when you are able to do this treatment within the comfort of your own home.

How it works…

If you and your care team agree that this is the treatment option that best fits you and your lifestyle, then you and your care partner (usually a spouse, family member, or friend) are trained to do hemodialysis in your home. Training can usually be completed within 4 weeks.

What Should I Consider if I Think I Might Prefer Home Hemodialysis?

• Home Hemodialysis is 5-6 days a week. The average run time per treatment is 3.5 hours.
• Home Hemodialysis is slower and gentler than in-center hemodialysis.
• You will still make a monthly visit to your Greenfield Dialysis unit to meet with our team members.
  • You can draw your own labs at home to bring to these visits.
• You have increased independence.
• You have your own smaller machine that you keep at your home.
• This machine does requires storage space for supplies.
  • Supplies are sent once a month
  • No additional charge for machine or supplies.
• Diet and fluids are more generous and not as limited because you are dialyzing daily and removing the waste and excess fluid daily
• With home hemodialysis, you usually experience improvement in blood pressure control because the dialysis is done daily and you are taking off less fluid each time.
• You have less fluid building up, which puts less stress on your heart, so your cardiac status usually improves.
• Fewer medications are generally needed with this type of treatment
• People who do home hemodialysis tell us they feel better.
  • They report feeling better on home hemodialysis than they did on in-center hemodialysis (3x/week)
    • More energy
    • Less headache and nausea
    • Improved ability to sleep at night
    • Improved quality of life, including improved sexual function

You can travel while on Home Hemodialysis!

Travel is easy to arrange!

• The machine goes into a travel roller
• Your supplies are sent to your destination
• If traveling by car, you can bring your machine and supplies with you
• If traveling by airplane, the machine and supplies do not count as baggage weight