NxStageUsers Introduces Don't Dialyze Alone Buddy System

By Peter Laird, MD

Rich Berkowitz of the NxStageUsers group announced today the creation of a dialysis buddy system for patients who are on home hemodialysis.

NxStageUsers, the kidney patient advocacy group, is happy to announce the startup of its new Buddy System for its members who perform kidney dialysis at home using the NxStage® System One dialysis machine.  Living up to its motto Don’t Dialyze Alone, NxStageUsers will match member dialyzors with others, and also match dialyzor care partners who are seeking a buddy.

Frequent daily or nocturnal home hemodialysis offers a person with kidney failure a more optimal therapy than in-center dialysis and the possibility for a more healthy and productive life.  Studies have shown it has had a great effect on lowering depression. However doing frequent home hemodialysis can also be more challenging for both for the dialyzor and care partner, particularly since they do not have a built-in, on-the-spot support system. . . 

NxStageUsers are asked to fill out a “Get a Buddy” form available on the group’s web site http://www.nxstageusers.com/buddy.html . They will then be contacted by a Buddy Coordinator who will put them in contact with others seeking buddies.  Once per month they will be asked to fill out a short, anonymous questionnaire.  This data will be analyzed for commons issues and how they are resolved.  

This new addition to NxStageUsers will be a useful resource to help patients on home hemodialysis reach out to fellow dialyzors experiencing the same challenges in home care. Dialyzing at home takes effort on the part of the patient and their families and any resource that will improve peer support as well will only enhance the home dialysis experience.

 

 

Comments

[roberta mikles]

Rich, CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is great. I continue to refer patients to home dialysis as they continue to contact me with problems e.g. reprisal in their units as a result of their speaking out and other treatment-related problems.

Congrats again for this wonderful program.
Roberta Mikles
www.qualitysafepatientcare.com