Daily hemodialysis logistics strategies for cost reduction

Abstract

Patients treated for end stage renal disease (ESRD) have a shorter life expectancy and a poorer quality of life than the general population. In an attempt to improve outcomes for this population of patients, a few new therapeutic approaches have been undertaken. With hemodialysis, an increase in dialysis frequency and/or time has been associated to improvements in anemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, hypertension, hyperphosphatemia, nutrition and quality of life. Yet, the access to these promising hemodialysis modalities has remained limited, due to the high cost of the treatments and to the cost to transport patients. This project is going to discuss how to reorganize transport logistics, and shifts of dialysis can give an improvement in quality of life by reducing the comorbidities related to renal failure and dialysis treatment and increasing life expectancy with the reduction of costs. (Clinical_Management)