Mar 11 2009
How to Safely Travel on Dialysis
If you are a dialysis patient planning to go on vacation in the near future, obviously you’ll want to know how to find dialysis units in the area you’ll be visiting. It is important to plan ahead as early as possible, as many dialysis units require two or three months prior notice to your visit. This is especially true in areas with high tourist traffic such as Hawaii, California, Arizona and Florida. If it is during a holiday season, the dialysis unit may require even more notice, sometimes up to six months. Keep in mind that the units operate on a first-come, first-serve basis, meaning those who have given the most advance notice will be given priority.
To help you determine where to dialyze in your travel destination, check with the charge nurse or a social worker in their respective dialysis unit to get a listing of dialysis units throughout the area. You may also want to contact the National Kidney Foundation.
For a complete list of units for your own reference, you can also write to the following address:
National Listing of Providers Furnishing
Kidney Dialysis and Transplant Services
Superintendent of Documents
US Government Printing Office
Washington, DC 20402