"With
your professional guidance, I feel much more relieved!" Mr. Zhou, who
lives in Wuzhishan, said excitedly as he shook the hands of the medical staff
from the Nephrology Department. Recently, the Nephrology Department team from
Hainan Chengmei Hospital, armed with assessment forms and health education
brochures, conducted regular home visits to the homes of peritoneal dialysis
patients, extending professional management to the patients' homes.
Peritoneal dialysis is one of the main methods for the treatment of end-stage chronic kidney disease. Compared with hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis is more convenient, economical, and suitable for home treatment. In the long process of management, the self-management ability of patients directly affects the treatment effect and survival rate.
However, home peritoneal dialysis requires strict environmental management, aseptic techniques, daily care, and dietary and medication management. Patients with insufficient self-management skills and non-standardized procedures at home are prone to complications such as peritonitis and dialysis catheter infections, which can seriously affect the treatment outcome.
"Your dialysis plan needs fine-tuning, and you should also pay attention to the timing of medication." Professor Chen Wen, the director of the Nephrology Department at Hainan Chengmei Hospital, formulated an individualized dialysis plan and adjusted medication based on Mr. Zhou's condition and recent laboratory results. At the same time, addressing the non-standardized operations by patients and their families, specialist nurses demonstrated on-site sterile procedures for peritoneal dialysis fluid exchange, routine catheter maintenance, and cleaning and nursing of catheter exit sites. They carefully corrected non-standardized operations and elaborated on professional knowledge such as the six-step handwashing technique, frequency of home disinfection, identification of complications, and handling of emergencies.
In addition to professional guidance, the nephrology team also delivered consolation goods, extending the hospital's care from the ward to the patients' homes.
"Dialysis management doesn't end with discharge from the hospital. Every day's home operation for patients is an indispensable part of treatment," said Professor Chen Wen. Home visits transform written prescriptions into practical actions that patients can stably perform at home, improving the closed-loop quality management of the entire home dialysis process.
To continuously ensure the safety of long-term dialysis, the Nephrology Department of Hainan Chengmei Hospital has incorporated home visits for peritoneal dialysis into its routine management, prioritizing key populations such as those with newly placed catheters, a history of recurrent infections, and elderly patients with mobility issues. A team consisting of specialist doctors and peritoneal dialysis nurses regularly visits patients as planned, transforming one-time heartwarming condolences into long-term and continuous care services.
Home follow-ups not only bring about operational corrections and optimization of treatment plans for patients, but also provide psychological companionship and support. An elderly patient undergoing peritoneal dialysis expressed her feelings that while she was a patient receiving diagnosis and treatment in the hospital, upon returning home, she had to complete the entire dialysis process alone. The visit from medical staff made her feel that she was not alone on the long journey of treatment.
The service scenario extends from the consulting room to the home, with medical standards consistently maintained at a high and uniform level. From hidden danger investigation, scheme optimization to continuous tracking management, home visits connect the complete safety chain of home dialysis. The Nephrology Department of Hainan Chengmei Hospital uses home visits as the sentinel for quality control of home dialysis, translating the "patient-centered" concept into care details, and guarding the "lifeline" of kidney disease patients with professionalism and warmth.
After concluding the home visit itinerary, the nephrology team also participated in local academic exchange meetings, sharing experiences and ideas with peers, and broadening their professional horizons through learning and discussion.