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Dear Provider,
Thank you to all the facilities that have completed and returned your facility PDSA form. In March, the Network asked facilities to review their root cause analysis for identified barriers and develop an action plan to overcome identified barriers.
One common identified barrier was patient care partner burn out. Although, peritoneal dialysis does not require a care partner, having assistance at home can contribute to the long term success of home dialysis.
Often, family members or close friends offer to be care partner for a dialysis patient, but do not fully understand the commitment that it requires. Both patient and care providers need to receive very thorough education on what is expected of them while utilizing a home modality. The care partners role need to be well defined prior to agreeing to help share the patient burden of:
*Counting and ordering supplies
*Moving supplies around the house
*Setting up and breaking down cycle daily
*Agreeing to provide transportation
*Track medication, weights and blood pressure daily
*Monitoring access sites for signs of infection
*Assisting in cannulating home hemo patients
Far to often, patients will eventually become in center hemo dialysis patients because their care partner is unaware of all responsibilities of utilizing a home modality therapy.
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