changing dialysis clinic?

[RichardOtt]

How difficult is it to transfer dialysis clinic?

[Darlenia]

Hi Richard. We are in the process of changing dialysis clinics. My husband, who is the one on dialysis, wanted to keep his nephrologist. The nephrologist told him he worked with two clinics and so my hubby happily gave up the initial clinic for the one closer to our new home. He has his first appointment at the new clinic next week. Basically, it all revolves your nephrologist and whether or not you want to keep him. They only hold "offices" in a few clinics. My hubby's nephrologist told my hubby, when he found out about our move, that he really enjoyed working with my hubby, but he would refer him to another nephrologist closer to our new home if we wanted that. While there are clinics even closer to our new home, my hubby is good with travelling a few extra miles to see his favorite nephrologist. And since both clinics are DaVita, the records move seamless between them. Now, if you don't mind changing your nephrologist, then your choices are broader - you can pick from a Fresenius Clinic or a DaVita Clinic for example. If you don't want your nephrologist's assistance, you could probably call the ones you have in mind and ask them for the name of good nephrologist that practices there. And you can then also ask about record transfers and so forth. Now, here's a word of caution. If you do this on your own, make sure you don't identify yourself because the one clinic will likely alert the other and that can have a very unpleasant outcome. I have followed a situation where that happened - a clinic basically refused to assist a lady afterwards. So do your research in a well thought out manner. And please let us know your outcome if you chose to go forward. Good luck!