Transportation for Dialysis Patients

Non-emergency medical transportation for dialysis patients requires special attention to a very particular set of needs. Patients deserve a comfortable, safe, and timely ride, as well as an affordable ride. All these things are incredibly important, considering that most dialysis patients rely on medical transportation three times per week.

Healthy kidneys keep your body in check by removing toxins and balancing out the body. When you suffer from end-stage kidney failure, your body no longer does this for you, hence why dialysis is necessary to maintain life. Dialysis is a common form of treatment that has been used since the 1940’s. End-stage kidney failure is defined by a loss of around 85% to 90% of kidney function. Patients with end-stage kidney failure require life-long dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant.

In some cases, acute kidney failure can clear itself up after treating the cause, in which case dialysis is a temporary form of treatment. Around 217,000 Americans are receiving ongoing dialysis treatment, which adds up to approximately $11.1 billion nationwide.

The Dialysis Process

After arriving at a dialysis treatment center, the patient is ushered into a comfortable seat of some kind. One arm is propped up and a medical technician inserts two needles into blood vessels located near the wrist.  One needle is used to capture the blood and the other is used to return the blood into the body. Both needles are attached to plastic tubes that lead to a dialysis machine sitting next to the patient. 

In total, the process generally lasts around three hours as the machine goes to work, removing wastes and extra fluid from the blood. There are several ways patients stay busy while the process goes on, perhaps reading a book or watching the news. Some take the opportunity to nap. Dialysis might not be fun, and it is certainly time-consuming, but it is a lifesaving process. The process is usually considered a temporary measure until a kidney transplant becomes available or normal kidney functions resume. Dialysis may be necessary due to a birth defect, disease, or injury. 

What does dialysis do?

Like healthy kidneys, dialysis keeps your body in balance. Dialysis does the following:

·       Removes waste, salt, and extra water to prevent them from building up in the body.

·       Keeps a safe level of certain chemicals in the blood, such as potassium, sodium, and bicarbonate.

·       Helps to control blood pressure.

Following dialysis treatment, patients are often tired, drained, and nauseated. It is so important that patients have a comfortable and reliable ride back home to help ease the burden of these symptoms. Many do not want to return for more treatments because of the way treatment makes them feel, but if one begins missing treatments, they will become a lot sicker until kidney failure proves fatal. 

It is so important to provide dialysis clients with the support they need through safe, reliable, on-time services.