my husband is on hemodialysis.we live in texas.he is on 3rd shift. suppose to be there by 3:30pm. frequently he waits 1 1/2 to 2 hrs to get on machine. sometimes due to 1st or 2nd shift patient late. how is this handled at your units? thanks for replies.

I am on the first shift at my center. If someone is having a hard time controlling the bleeding,they move him/or her to a wheelchair
or move them to a chair that is not being used so the next person can get in. The center I go to everyone pitches in to take someone off or put someone on the machine. Even if it is not their patient. I find this very efficient. It is one of the best run centers I have seen. 1 1/2 to 2 hours to be put on a machine seems excessive. Talk to the medical director, maybe he can help.

THANKS WKELLY FOR YOUR REPLY. I DIDN'T MEAN 1ST AND 2ND SHIFT LATE GETTING OFF DUE TO BLEEDING WHICH IS SOMETIMES THE CASE BUT LATE ARRIVING FOR THEIR TREATMENT TIME. WE BROUGHT ISSUES TO THE DIRECTOR BEFORE, NOTHING ACCOMPLISHED EXCEPT A LETTER FROM HIM STATING ANOTHER TREATMENT CENTER COULD BE CHOSEN IF PATIENTS UNHAPPY! REALLY INTIMIDATED MY HUSBAND. THERE IS ONLY ONE OTHER TREATMENT CENTER IN OUR AREA AND IT HAS A BAD REPUTATION. ONE PATIENT SUGGESTED IF 1ST OR 2ND SHIFT LATE FOR TREATMENT CUT THEIR TREATMENT TIME THAT DAY. MORE SUGGESTIONS APPRECIATED.

You have to understand that my Nephrologist is the medical director of my center, So he takes my complaints very seriously. One thing that might help is ask to be put on an earlier shift, I know that if you are working , the later shift is prefered. I wouldn't move to a different center if you are happy with your current one. I know that this is a difficult situation, but there should be someone there you can talk to. Nursing director, charge nurse, social worker. I know this is not much, but I have not run into the problem you are describing. A little late is unfortunate, but 1.5 to 2 hours late would be hard to take.
Good Luck
Walt

Hi! Wow that is a long wait to get on the machine. I run In Canada in a small satilite unit and our problem is generally that people arrive early for their run and then have to wait and of course complain. With your situation I would try putting the concern is writing along with a suggestion that the people that are late have a shorter run. It is a system in our larger unites that works well. If you do not get a better result from the director I would take it to the next level. Perhaps even sending a copy of your letter to them as well. As for the other unit having a bad reputation I would check that carefully before assuming that it is true. Hope this helps. nancy


[This message has been edited by Michael Williams (edited 05-03-2000).]

Nancy, thanks for your reply. Since my original question was posted, I resigned my job.Now, knowing my spouse is never put on the machine before 5:00 pm we do not even go to the center until 4:45. We never get home until about 10:00 pm. He has a 4 hr treatment and bleeds 15 to 20 min. There seemed no hope of things changing no matter what we did. There are some real bad mgmt problems at our center here in Texas.Constant turnover in nurses and techs and scheduling problems.It seems less stressful to my spouse just to accept the lateness.Thanks again.By the way I did alot of research on the other center and no way would we go there.