There's an FMC clinic in Northeast PA that provides Home Hemo, Home Nocturnal, Incenter Nocturnal, and PD programs. If anyone's interested post a reply.

In the in-center nocturnal program what time do patients arrive and leave? Do they dialyze in beds or chairs? How does it work out trying to sleep with a room full of other patients and noises through the night? Seems like you'd have to be a deep sleeper to get any rest. Is it an open ward or is there any privacy? How long has the program been going on and what have been the results? What machine and dialyzer is used?

Where is the program in Northeast Pa. I am in that area and definitely looking for a slow nocturnal program. I hope to be able to do it at home.

OK, I'll try to answer all of your questions in order:

The patients dialyze approximately from 8PM until 4-5AM.

All dialyze in beds provided by the facility, but the unit has regular chairs and if you preferred a chair that would be OK.

Patients getting enough sleep hasn't been the problem it was thought it would be. It takes a few nights to get used to. It takes place in the regular dialysis unit.

The program has been open about 8 months, just about every patient feels they do better on Nocturnal.

The facility uses Fresenius 2008H machines, any dialyzer your Dr feels necessary can be obtained.

Pat #2, the facility is in Nanticoke, just south of Wilkes Barre.

Thank you very much for the answers. Is there anything else you can say about the program? Do the patients go to sleep at 8 or watch tv etc.? Wear regular clothes or pjs? Are light turned off? Is there any talking or noise going on? Is the program 3 nights a week or six? Are regular dialysis needles used? I have a fistula and it needs the day between txs to heal. Also, after 4 hours of dialysis my arm becomes sore from the needles so its hard for me to picture keeping the needles in all night. Anything the patients don't like about the program? Are staff put through a special training program? Do you use RNs, techs or both? How many programs like this now exist? Are the beds comfortable to the patients and do they use the same bed each time? Do fit in as many beds as you do chairs?