My husband has been on dialysis for 21 years and it didn’t just happen, it came from doing what was right and listening to his body. He knows when he has infections on board and the doctors listen to him and treat him for it before it gets worse. His problem now is a certain technician that’s going through the change and has a fan around her neck and has had an AC unit for in her section per the director. She has this unit turned up on high end all of the patients complain. She tells them all to wear a jacket and bring a blanket. Well, my husband is doing just that and now he has a nagging cough from being so cold all day then catching the bus home on a hot bus. Which makes for a bad feeling. Who do you report this to when the director is in on this and the higher officials turn their heads on any reports from that center. There has got to be Someone in charge and for the patient. They already can’t eat or drink on the machine and now have to suffer in the cold. It’s not fair. Where do you turn for help!!! Can someone one tell me!
Dialysis Unit Too Cold: My husband has been... - Kidney Dialysis
Dialysis Unit Too Cold
That's not a good situation! I would persuade my husband to transfer to another dialysis center if that's possible. Maybe you can also call corporate headquarters and tell them to fix the problem. And, lastly, perhaps your husband may want to consider doing dialysis at home. It's sad when dialysis patients are treated poorly. Please continue to advocate for your husband. And I hope others will give you suggestions too. We care.
The following link gives information about how and to whom you can file complaints about a dialysis center:
medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11314...
Does your center have a patient advocate? If so you might try talking with that person.
Jayhawker
Tried to access that page and got an Error: page not found
If you google Dialysis center problems filing a complaint it should come up. Plus you may need to copy and paste the link directly into your internet browser for it to work—this website may not allow you to access the website directly from within this forum.
Jayhawker
I received a call from having called and reported this situation and my husband was here to talk to the lady also, which made it so much better. Because he could really speak on what really went on. The person spoke to the director and said to let her know if there isn't a change, then she would contact the State. My husband knew those people too and spoke how tough it would be to contact them, but the person said, they have ways of contacting them and speak to them all the time. So, we are going to give this a chance and see what happens. I appreciate your help !
It sounds very positive! Please continue to let us know the progress and final outcome should any of us also wind up with a situation that needs fixing down the road. Jayhawker certainly gave you great contact info to put the wheels in motion!
Good! I’m so glad to hear this... Let us know how this is resolved.
Jayhawker
Here is the information from the site you are having a hard time accessing. Please continue to advocate for your husband and others at your center. Contact information is in the areas with bullet points.
Filing a Complaint Concerning Dialysis or Kidney Transplant Care
Medicare has health and safety standards to protect you. The Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Federal agency that runs the
Medicare Program, and the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network
Organization both focus on quality improvement for people with ESRD who
receive treatment in dialysis facilities. The State survey agency, which is usually
part of your state’s health department, also works to make sure providers meet
Federal standards.
The ESRD Network monitors and improves the quality of care given to ESRD
patients by dialysis facilities. They also help patients with complaints and
concerns with dialysis facilities and transplant centers.
The ESRD Network and State survey agencies both deal with complaints. The
ESRD Network monitors and improves the quality of care given to ESRD
patients and deals with dialysis facility and transplant center complaints and
grievances. The ESRD Network doesn’t deal with complaints about other
health care settings.
The State survey agencies deal with complaints about hospitals and other health
care settings. State survey agencies can also handle complaints about dialysis
facilities and transplant centers. The State survey agencies and the ESRD
Networks work together to resolve complaints and they refer complaints to
each other when the complaint can be best addressed by the other agency. If the
ESRD Network doesn’t handle your complaint, they will refer you to another
organization that can help you.
You can file a complaint with these agencies against a Medicare or Medicaid
provider (including doctors, dialysis facilities, transplant centers, or hospitals) if you
feel that you have received improper care or treatment.
What are examples of complaints?
The ESRD Network can help you with the following types of complaints:
• The dialysis facility won’t allow eating during dialysis and you’re always hungry
• The dialysis shift conflicts with your work hours and the facility won’t change
your shift
• Your blood tests are too high or too low and you aren’t feeling well
The State survey agency can help you with the following types of complaints:
• Claims of abuse to a dialysis patient
• Mistakes in giving out or prescribing medication
• Poor quality of care in a dialysis facility, transplant center, nursing home,
ambulatory center, home health agency, or hospice
• Unsafe conditions, such as water damage or electrical or fire safety concerns
How do I file a complaint?
You can file a complaint either verbally or in writing to your ESRD Network, State
survey agency, or CMS. The ESRD Network and CMS will only share your personal
information with organizations that are working to protect you and investigate the
complaint. If you prefer, you may file a complaint without using your name.
To file a complaint about dialysis treatment or kidney transplant care, contact the
ESRD Network Organization. If you’re moving and want the names of dialysis
facilities in your new neighborhood, you should contact your ESRD Network
Organization.
To find your ESRD Network Organization:
• Visit medicare.gov on the web. Under “Search Tools,” select “Find Helpful
Phone Numbers and Websites,” then select “Find a Specific Organization.”
Choose “ESRD—End-Stage Renal Disease Networks,” then choose your state.
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and ask for the ESRD Network
Organization in your state. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
To file a complaint about care in a hospital or other health care setting, contact
your State’s health department by looking at the blue pages in your telephone
book. Or, you can visit medicare.gov on the web. Under “Search Tools,” select
“Find Helpful Phone Numbers and Websites,” then select “Find a Specific
Organization.” Choose “State Survey Agencies.”
Have the following information available to give to the person who takes
your complaint:
• Your name, address, and telephone number
• Name of health care provider
• Location of health care provider, including room or floor, if applicable
• Details of your concern, including the date and time
• Name(s) of other people involved and/or affected
• Whether you have reported this complaint to anyone else, including the health
care provider and the response if you have already made a report
• What you would like to see happen to resolve your complaint
For more information
Visit medicare.gov on the web. Or, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
Thanks so much again!!
I’ve noticed that they sure don’t make it too easy to complain. I want to write to them but they have phone numbers.
kidney.org/atoz/content/dia...
The link above is to information from the National Kidney Foundation regarding dialysis centers, your rights, and filing complaints.
Jayhawker
I received a call from having called and reported this situation and my husband was here to talk to the lady also, which made it so much better. Because he could really speak on what really went on. The person spoke to the director and said to let her know if there isn't a change, then she would contact the State. My husband knew those people too and spoke how tough it would be to contact them, but the person said, they have ways of contacting them and speak to them all the time. So, we are going to give this a chance and see what happens. I appreciate your help !
If you have already appealed to the director, you can also notify the IPRO dialysis network for your state to advocate for you and the other patients. Is there a PAC Representative for your center - he/she will know the number to call. New England is Network 1 and there are networks for NY state and the midwest. You are not alone! There should also be grievance form and lockbox located in the lobby for the patients. They are required by the CMS to investigate all grievances.
Thanks! I contacted the Network and the lady was working from her home. She called and spoke to the director and it’s been Better lately. And she said if there wasn’t a change, she would go higher. My husband said it’s been reasonable and comfortable. Not 61 degrees, because he has a thermometer that he takes with him and knows what the temperature is at all times. I was surprised that I was called the very next day after filling a complaint. So they do listen.
I’ve received a letter of my complaints and what the Network will do. Now the director is stepping down in October!! Didn’t know that was all it took!!
Wow! Wonderful results...this really restores my respect and appreciation for the action taken in supporting you and your husband. Patients should never be forced to suffer to accommodate the staff in any health establishment, particularly dialysis centers that one must use to stay alive. (Our dialysis center keeps the temperature at a reasonable temperature, allows patients to eat their lunch while in the chair, and more.) Facilities that don't meet requirements, stand to lose millions of dollars from Medicare and other insurers. Thank you so much for keeping us in the loop! And many kudos to you, too, for being such a wonderful caregiver!
Great! I'm glad you got results!
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