What to do if you go to the hospital
No one wants to think about a hospital stay, but there are some really important things to remember if you’re admitted.
Be sure to share this information with your family and friends, so they can speak for you if you’re unable to tell the doctors and nurses yourself.
Call your kidney doctor and your dialysis center
Leave your name and say that you’re going to the hospital. Let the doctor know which hospital.
Tell the hospital you have dialysis treatments
Give them the name and phone number of your doctor and your center.
Tell the hospital that you need:
- Dialysis treatments while in the hospital
- Dialysis-friendly meals
- For fistula/grafts, blood draws to be taken from your non-dialysis access arm and as close to the hand as possible
- For those on PD, people helping with treatment to wear a mask and have washed their hands just before connecting and disconnecting treatment
If you go to the hospital, make sure everyone there knows you have dialysis treatments. Make sure they communicate with your kidney doctor and dialysis center.
Call your kidney doctor and dialysis center to tell them
Take current medications with you if possible
Tell the hospital you’re a dialysis patient
Things to know before a hospital stay
Mikie, a Satellite social worker, walks you through the things you should know about going to the hospital and what should happen for a safe return to your regular dialysis schedule.
Learning from other people on dialysis
A healthy life on dialysis means always learning, always improving. Listen to these stories of real patients and their stays in the hospital.
I forgot to say I was a dialysis patient
The hospital staff realizes Mrs. Calla is on dialysis and makes sure she gets the special care she needs.
Mr. Lamm is welcomed back to his dialysis center after a hospital stay.