LONG BEACH, Calif., Nov. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives of over 30 home dialysis programs operated by Innovative Dialysis Systems gathered in Long Beach, CA recently, for the company’s first Home Dialysis Employee Retreat.
“Home dialysis nurses have a unique role in our dialysis centers, and they don’t always have the opportunity to network with their peers to share ideas and experiences,” said Anita Lipman, National Director of Home Therapies for Innovative Dialysis. “This meeting was a chance for these nurses to be recognized for the important work that they do, to learn more about home therapy options, and to share their own personal stories with the group.”
Representatives of companies that provide home dialysis equipment, products and supplies made presentations to the attendees. Baxter Healthcare and NxStage Medical, the current leaders in home dialysis equipment, were supporters of the meeting. Affymax and Metro Medical Systems also attended and provided enthusiasm and education to the group.
The home dialysis program nurses were introduced to Innovative Dialysis’ new patient education program, called “Innovative Choices,” a free class for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients and their families that is designed to help them understand the disease and their treatment options better.
Participants agreed that the highlight of the meeting was the patient panel. Local home dialysis patients Sandra Peoples, of Westside Dialysis Center in Los Angeles, and Don Tsunawaki, of West Coast Dialysis in Long Beach, CA, shared the stage and their home dialysis experience with the audience.
Both speakers stressed that Chronic Kidney Disease patients need to understand that they have choices when it comes to their eventual dialysis care. “Patients need to be informed. They need to know that there are options for End Stage Renal Disease care. I didn’t know what questions to ask, and I don’t think a lot of other patients know either,” said Ms. Peoples.
Mr. Tsunawaki echoed that sentiment and said “patients have to do the homework. You have to make an educated guess it’s not a pure science. But ask questions and do what you can to educate yourself.”
Innovative Dialysis is a subsidiary of Ambulatory Services of America, Inc. Innovative Dialysis serves more than 5,700 dialysis patients and owns interests in and provides management services to 71 dialysis programs in 13 states and the territory of Guam. It also provides management services only to six facilities in California. For more information, visit http://www.IDSdialysis.com.
SOURCE Innovative Dialysis
