Services
Mercy Dialysis Center
What to Expect
It is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed when first starting dialysis. There are many changes going on in the body as well as in the dynamics of lifestyle. It is normal for you to feel tired after dialysis especially for the first couple months. During the first couple of weeks, you are encouraged to have someone drive you to and from dialysis until it is determined how well the treatment is tolerated. After this time, you may come to treatment alone if you feel well enough to do so.
The process of dialysis does not hurt. Many of our patients read, sleep, watch television, do crafts or visit during their treatment time. If experiencing discomfort during treatment in the form of any pain, nausea, dizziness, cramps or an unexplainable different feeling, we would like to be informed. It is not uncommon for dialysis patients to feel cold at times. This can be related to anemia due to renal failure.
The staff asks that you and/or your family keep them informed of how you feel. You are encouraged to take the best possible care of yourself such as in taking medications as prescribed, watching your diet and complying with the treatment schedule. Keep staff and the physician or nurse practitioner informed of changes in your medications, and how you feel before, after and between treatments. We encourage you to come to treatment event if you are not feeling the best so we can assess you and help you to feel better.
Treatment Scheduling
If you have a conflict with your treatment schedule, we will do our best to accommodate you with as little disruption as possible. If you have other appointments that may delay arrival to the Dialysis Center, we ask you to let us know so we can rearrange appointments and better accommodate the patients who may follow you in the treatment schedule.
We encourage patients who still are employed to continue working. We will do our best to plan the dialysis around your work schedule.
If you plan to travel, we will assist in finding a dialysis unit close to your destination. We are able to set up treatments in many facilities around the country and the world. We require a minimum of one-month advance notice to set up arrangements in another facility. Scheduling at another site is dependent upon the receiving unit's openings and availability.
Patient Privacy
All patient information at Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa is held in the strictest confidence. Click here to access our privacy notice.
Short Term Care Conference
The Mercy Dialysis Center team meets once each month to discuss each patient's care, progress, tolerance of treatment as well as problems and issues that may arise. You will be invited to attend your portion of the care conference. At that time the team encourages comments, suggestions, and other ideas that may assist in providing excellent ongoing care. We encourage input from you and your family members.
Long Term Care Conference:
Once a year a private, more extensive, care conference is held with each patient and his/her family. Patients may ask questions about their care, transplant options, or any other issues affecting them. The physician, nurse practitioner, dietitian, social worker and primary nurse also attend and give input about the patient's progress. Patients will be informed in advance of the date and time of the care conference will be held. We encourage patients and families to attend.
