Upon entering the dialysis clinic, a nurse will check your blood pressure, body weight, temperature, and pulse. Then you’ll be escorted to a dialysis room, where you’ll be connected with a dialysis machine via the port. For the next three to five hours your blood will be cleansed by the dialyzer machine. During your dialysis sessions, you'll sit or lie on a recliner or bed.

The dialysis treatment process can be tiring and since you can’t move around during it, it’s a smart idea to bring your books, phone or laptop, to help pass the time.

Remember to bring picture ID for your first treatment. Also, if you wear glasses or use hearing aids, remember to bring those with you. Bring your medication lists, laboratory results and medical history.

Wear comfortable clothes, because you’ll be spending a couple of hours in a dialysis clinic during each kidney dialysis session, it is important to dress comfortably. What you wear should be loose. Also, wear a clothing that will make it easy for your healthcare team to reach your access.

Please, also take a change of shoes with you.

An individualized treatment plan is written for each patient. Conventional hemodialysis requires visits to a clinic three times a week. Usually, each hemodialysis treatment lasts 4-5 hours.

Treatment can be changed if there are no clinical contraindications. Patients who switch from hemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis will need to have a PD catheter placed. This is usually done as an outpatient procedure.

Transportation to and from the dialysis treatment is organized as part of a comprehensive hemodialysis service. You travel with other patients.