Home Hemodialysis Service
Home hemodialysis offers members many health and lifestyle advantages over in-center dialysis. These
benefits include feeling better, reduced fatigue, reduced dependence on medication, improved sleep, a longer life
and, most importantly, a better quality of life. While home hemodialysis has been available since the
1960s, one of the main reasons for its current low utilization has been a lack of information. One recent U.S. study* found that not only did 36% of patients not have contact with a nephrologist until fewer than four months prior to their first dialysis session, but only 12% of patients were offered home hemodialysis as a treatment option. Today, with the FDA approval of three machines designed specifically for home use, dialysis on a more frequent basis, has become more practical. **The availability of home hemodialysis has steadily increased since 2004 when there were just 3,292 programs offering some type of home based treatment. As of March 2011, there are now over 6,500 programs. Among these programs the fastest area of growth has been in short, daily home hemodialysis (SDHD). In the above mentioned time frame, these programs have grown from just 37 in 2004 to more than 800 as of 2011. The increased availability of programs further demonstrates the awareness that home based therapy has many benefits over in-center treatment.
Product Summary
DCC’s service helps identify members with chronic kidney disease through data mining and direct patient contact before they begin dialysis to increase knowledge of this alternative treatment. This is all accomplished before the decision is made to utilize traditional dialysis in-center methods and to promote a lifestyle of independence. DCC’s expert staff negotiates rates to provide direct savings to the member and their plan. There is also significant reduction in related medical spending for members using home hemodialysis.
Key Features
• The service provides opportunity for early intervention.
• Schedule that fits the patient’s needs.
• Alternative method with cost-efficiency over traditional dialysis methods.
• Provides member education, as well as cost containment.
• Enhanced physician engagement model.
Benefits
• Portable machine allows members to travel for work or pleasure including airplane travel.
• Members are significantly more likely to keep their jobs and have improved productivity.
• A recent study indicates that when performing dialysis nocturnally, life expectancy may exceed what is expected with a transplant.
• There may be a reduction in blood pressure medication use.
• Users report more energy and a reduction in nausea.
