At-home dialysis is growing trend

For the last 5 years, Pam Huffman-Papak has been one of thousands of Americans on dialysis.  First, she used peritoneal dialysis, with a catheder in the abdomen, but suffered infections.
Then she used hemodialysis in a center.

"I would go 3 days a week for 4 hours and get my dialysis, and drive from Rensselaer," said Huffman-Papak.

Then, she went to WellBound Dialysis Center.  She and her husband were trained on a NxStage system, which he helps her use several days a week in the comfort of their own home.

"He sets it up and puts me on. I sit there for about 2 hours and 15 mintues, and read, and dialyze, and it's just great," she said.

"A beauty of home dialysis is when people go home they aren't locked into a 3 times a week 4 hour schedule like if they do dialysis in center. At home they can do short dialysis 2-3 hours, maybe 3 days out of 4, and they can also do overnight dialysis," said Dr. Stephen Ash, WellBound Medical Director.

In addition to the convenience it offers, Dr. Ash said home hemodialysis is one of the safest choices for treatment of kidney failure.

"Part of that is the patient themselves learn how the dialysis procedure goes for them, they learn their own response to the therapy so they learn what the normal effects are and they're very sensitive and very cogniscent of anything that's different," said Dr. Ash.

Dr. Ash said patients who use in-home dialysis also have lower hospitalization and infection rates. Huffman-Papak said she feels better.

"I have a lot more energy. I'm a part-time teacher, so I thought I felt pretty good before, but after being on this just a week or two it was amazing how much more energy I had," she said.

Patients who use the system go through training on the equipment, have access to 24-hour assistance by phone, and must have a partner in the home. Huffman-Papak said for her, the at-home system has been a lifesaver.