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If you’re reading this article, then it’s likely that either your or a loved one are going through or about to begin dialysis. You’re probably feeling stressed, worried, and probably overwhelmed with choices and decisions that must be made.
Dealing with any kind of chronic health condition is stressful and upsetting, and raises a number of important questions. The first and most important question is what clinic you’ll choose for your dialysis.
You may have heard of Fresenius Dialysis clinic, a well-known brand of renal healthcare clinics. Who are they? Can you trust Fresenius Dialysis?
What should you know about their treatment options and their history? What do you real Fresenius patients say? Also, what can you expect from first-time kidney dialysis?
Let’s find out.
Fresenius Dialysis clinic is a well-known and well-established renal care line. They provide healthcare, as well as dialysis machines and equipment.
However, when it comes to choosing a dialysis clinic, you have plenty of options, Fresenius clinics included. Of course, not every clinic will be a good fit for every patient – so how do you choose?
Let’s discuss Fresenius Dialysis Clinic’s history, treatment options, and where you can find the nearest clinic.
Originally based in Germany, Fresenius Dialysis Clinic has a long history of dealing with dialysis patients and providing high-quality renal care. In fact, according to the Fresenius Dialysis clinic website, the company originally traces back all the way to 1912, when Dr. Eduard Fresenius began to produce pharmaceuticals for Hirsch Pharmacy.
In 1966, Fresenius began to sell dialysis machines and other equipment and began to carry out dialysis procedures in 1979.
This kind of medical pedigree can give patients a little more faith in a clinic. Experience and expertise are absolutely essential in any line of healthcare. The longer a clinic lasts, the more faith its patients can have that it’s continuing to deliver high-quality medical care.
A quote from the Fresenius website reads: “We aim to direct our research and development activities toward developing innovative products and renal therapies that not only meet high-quality standards that improve clinical outcomes but are also affordable.”
This is an important factor to consider when looking into dialysis – how much will it cost? Essentially, dialysis may be the treatment you absolutely need if you want to stay alive. Cheaper isn’t always better, but neither can many patients afford the most expensive treatments.
Fresenius aims towards keeping its treatments affordable and reasonable. Healthcare can be extremely expensive, even with health insurance, and dialysis is an ongoing procedure that can quickly rack up the costs.
Fresenius offers varied and flexible treatment options. You can find more info on Fresenius renal therapy here.
Essentially, kidney dialysis can be broken into three main categories: Hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and at-home dialysis. Here’s what you need to know about each form of dialysis.
Hemodialysis is the “traditional” form of dialysis. Blood is extracted from the body, usually from a surgically implanted portal in the arm, and is run through a dialysis machine. This machine cleans and filters the blood, and returns it to the body.
Benefits of hemodialysis include:
Peritoneal dialysis involves using the membrane of the abdominal cavity to clean and filter the blood and requires a catheter.
Since peritoneal dialysis best resembles the way our own kidneys filter blood, peritoneal dialysis often produces better results.
Benefits of peritoneal dialysis include:
Most of us much prefer the comfort of our own homes. Fortunately, at-home dialysis treatments are available.
There are some downsides to at-home dialysis. For one thing, you’ll need to keep dialysis equipment and medication on hand. A partner or caregiver will need to supervise your dialysis, and you won’t have a medical clinic or medical professionals on hand.
Even so, these downsides often don’t overshadow the benefits.
Here are some benefits of at-home dialysis:
Fresenius Dialysis also offers alternative dialysis treatments:
You can speak to a medical professional (ideally your doctor) about what kind of dialysis is best for you and your lifestyle.
The Fresenius website also provides tools to help you find a nearby clinic. Start by visiting this page, which will help you decide what you need from a clinic.
For example, are you willing to travel to a clinic? Would you prefer at-home treatment? Or perhaps you would like to take a class to learn more about dialysis?
Interestingly, there are also options available for dialysis while traveling. If you’re going on a vacation, you’ll still need regular dialysis.
Finally, this location tool can help you find a nearby clinic.
In our modern day of endless internet reviews, it’s easier than ever to learn about a company or location without ever visiting it. Healthcare companies and clinics are no exception.
It’s always wise to do your due diligence before attending any dialysis clinic, and checking patient reviews online is a good way to learn more about the clinic before you visit.
Let’s be clear – it can be difficult to establish the authenticity of reviews on the internet. However, we’ve taken these reviews at face value.
At best, a dialysis clinic should be efficient, clean, welcoming, and comfortable. Here’s one patient review:
“I Dialyse at the Fresenius in Canon City, Colorado and it is one of the cleanest, friendliest, and efficient centers I have been in. The staff is remarkable and extremely well trained. Nursing staff and Techs are all very professional, even when under pressure. KUDOS to them all!” – Jude Whedon
A trustworthy dialysis clinic is essential, especially for those whose loved ones are undergoing dialysis. Remember, you’ll be spending around 9-15 hours a week in your chosen dialysis facility, so try and choose wisely!
“Everyone who works here is amazing – especially Dominik, Catherine, and Lexi. My mom has been a patient of theirs for a few months and they are incredibly kind and caring people – always willing to answer questions, etc.” – Samantha Selig
Perhaps a warm and friendly atmosphere isn’t strictly necessary for a good dialysis procedure, but it certainly makes a huge difference to a patient’s comfort.
You can view more varied reviews, including the ones given above, here and here.
Clinics can vary from location to location. You may have a wonderful experience with a dialysis clinic in one state and a truly abysmal experience in another. Healthcare clinics are unfortunately no exception.
“Okay got us out fast and was professional. They left the trailer a mess, going to have to clean it out. It looks like pallets exploded in there.” – Caira Monsour
“Knowing I was a first-time patient who knows nothing about dialysis, technicians and nurses explain nothing about the dialysis procedure. Everyone goes about their business and explains nothing. Will answer questions when asked, but volunteers no information. Poor communicators.” – W. W.
This can be a serious problem in healthcare clinics. These facilities are often very busy and sometimes understaffed, and staff may feel that they simply don’t have time to stop and talk to patients.
However, this can lead to mistakes, miscommunications, or patients simply feeling left in the dark and confused. You can read more varied reviews, including the ones above, here.
It’s reasonable to expect some variation between clinics, but not too much. Unfortunately, the difference between some clinics can be far too much to overlook. At their worst, Fresenius clinics can be dirty, poorly run, and unpleasant to attend.
“I work at an SNF in Southern, NJ I have worked in healthcare for over thirty years. We send patients to our local facility in Vineland, NJ. I would say this operation is a disgrace in every possible way, calls go to voice mail, and no one is available to assist you. I just made 6 phone calls to the corp office in MA and EVERY ONE went to a voicemail. Shame on this company for such poor customer service.” – Barry Fliegelman
Navigating the healthcare system can be tricky, and dealing with unresponsive or poorly-run clinics only compounds your stress. You can read more varied reviews, including the one given above, here.
Whether you decide to attend Fresenius Dialysis clinics or not, you’ll likely still have lots of questions about dialysis.
Especially for first-time users, going for dialysis can be a stressful and nerve-wracking experience, which can actually exacerbate any symptoms or sensations you experience.
So, what should you expect from kidney dialysis? Who needs kidney dialysis – and who doesn’t?
The natural function of the kidneys is to filter toxins, waste products, and other solubles from our blood. These toxins build up over time and may build up faster in some individuals, depending on diet, lifestyle, and genetic factors.
A problem occurs when the kidneys can’t filter the blood anymore. It’s possible to survive with just one working kidney, but if both organs stop working, the body will begin to fail and die.
This is where dialysis comes in. Dialysis is a man-made method of blood filtering. While it can’t really replace the kidneys’ natural functions, dialysis can keep a patient alive.
Getting dialysis for the first time is nerve-wracking. However, this procedure isn’t supposed to be uncomfortable or painful. In fact, it’s often just boring. Hemodialysis takes several hours, but peritoneal dialysis usually just involves a changing of the fluid in your abdominal cavity and replacing it with fresh dialysis fluid.
For hemodialysis, two needles will be inserted into a portal, usually placed in the arm by a surgeon. This site will be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized first.
Blood is withdrawn from one needle and run through the dialysis machine. The blood is filtered and cleaned, then returned to the body through the other needle.
This process should take around 3-5 hours and will need to be repeated around 3 times a week. Your doctor may give you different dialysis sessions based on your healthcare needs.
If you experience any uncomfortable sensations during your session, like abdominal cramps or nausea, speak to a medical professional, as your dialysis settings (speed, volume, etc) may need to be adjusted. If you notice any side effects after dialysis, speak to your doctor.
While dialysis is going on, you can read, watch TV, or even take a nap. Essentially, you’re just passing the time until your blood has been filtered and cleaned. This is why many patients prefer to do dialysis in the comfort of their own homes.
Even so, you’ll likely still be nervous before your first dialysis session. Try not to worry too much – the nerves won’t last!
Fresenius is a well-established manufacturer of renal care products. They produce dialysis machines for both hemo- and peritoneal dialysis, as well as a host of other products.
In fact, approximately half of all dialysis products sold each year are sold by Fresenius.
If you suffer from end-stage kidney disease, there is a good chance that dialysis will be recommended. However, dialysis is not a miracle cure.
For example, dialysis is not guaranteed to work on patients over 75 with other health conditions. Especially for older patients, dialysis can be tiring, time-consuming, and not really worth the trouble.
This isn’t always the case. Each patient is different, and should thoroughly consult with medical professionals before starting – or not starting – any course of treatment.
So, is Fresenius Dialysis the clinic for you?
On the one hand, Fresenius is a well-established and hugely experienced brand of renal care providers. They’ve been providing dialysis services since the 1970s, and have continued going strong until this day.
Their website is well set up and very detailed, with plenty of information about the company, its practices, and – most importantly of all – what dialysis treatments they offer and which one is right for you.
However, the online reviews seem to be very mixed. Patients seem to either have a wonderful five-star experience, or a terrible time in an uncomfortable, poorly-run, and unfriendly environment.
Essentially, when it comes to choosing your dialysis clinic, your best option is to visit the clinic yourself in person. Keep an eye out for obvious red flags: unresponsive, unfriendly, or inefficient staff, an uncomfortable or dirty environment, or unhappy patients.
If possible, speak to someone who’s already attended that particular clinic about their experience. Always listen to your gut – your instincts are right more often than you know. Do online research on the clinic you plan to attend and read as many patient reviews as you can.
Living with kidney disease or another kind of renal problem is not easy. Dialysis can be an inconvenient and time-consuming problem. Navigating your healthcare insurance or getting Medicare/Medicaid can be a real headache.
Also, you need to choose that clinic that will help you on your pathway to a transplant, if that’s your end goal.
It’s worth noting that dialysis isn’t effective forever. While the dialysis process never stops working, your body may stop responding to it after a few years. While some patients have lived for decades on dialysis, the average lifespan for a patient on dialysis is another 5-15 years.
Choosing a good dialysis clinic shouldn’t add to your stress. It’s important not to rush this decision. As we’ve mentioned before, you’ll be spending approximately 9-15 hours a week at this clinic, unless you opt for at-home treatment.
