How to choose a dialysis centre
You have the right to choose where you continue your treatment. After the initial dialysis sessions in hospital, patients must be given a list of available dialysis centres within 100 km of their home. Patients have the right to choose the centre where they wish to continue outpatient treatment. Choosing a dialysis centre is an important decision. Patients and their families therefore need to understand the available options, the services included and the differences between centres.
Factors to consider when choosing a dialysis centre:
treatment quality
Medical standards, equipment, treatment options and the team’s experience.
additional services
Transport, vascular access care, nutrition and psychological support, holiday dialysis, and educational materials and digital tools.
proximity to home
An accessible centre can make the treatment schedule of three four-hour sessions a week easier to manage.
communication with the medical team
Clear information, answers to your questions and support throughout treatment.
facilities at the dialysis centre
A safe, modern space adapted to patients’ needs.
GET INFORMED. ASK QUESTIONS. MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE.
Chronic Kidney Disease can change the lives of patients and their families, but accurate information can make the journey clearer and easier.
Technology that supports treatment quality and efficiency
Dialysis machines
Modern, safe and easy for medical staff to operate, Fresenius Medical Care dialysis machines use specially developed software to display treatment parameters on screen in real time. Patients can see indicators of treatment efficiency (Kt/V) during their dialysis session.
Dialysers
Fresenius Medical Care dialysers are steam-sterilised, avoiding the risk of sterilisation residues such as ethylene oxide. Their highly biocompatible membranes ensure efficient removal of uraemic toxins. The Fresenius Medical Care portfolio also includes dialysers designed for haemodiafiltration treatments.
Water and dialysate purification system
The ultrapure dialysis fluid used for treatment combines purified water and concentrate and meets European quality standards. It is produced using the water treatment system and special filters fitted to the dialysis machines, and is used across all treatment modalities. The aim is to minimise inflammatory reactions and prevent or delay long-term complications.
Body composition assessment
Measurements taken to determine the dialysis prescription accurately identify the excess water to be removed for each patient. This helps achieve an optimal dry weight and maximise treatment efficiency. Measurements of muscle mass and body fat also provide an objective indicator of the patient’s nutritional status.
Haemodialysis (HD)
Haemodialysis involves passing blood through a dialyser, a special filter that removes toxins and excess water. The cleaned blood is then returned to the body by the dialysis machine.
Haemodiafiltration (HDF)
This advanced treatment cleans the blood more efficiently than standard haemodialysis, particularly by removing larger molecules and uraemic toxins. High-volume haemodiafiltration also reduces the risk of death by 23% compared with high-flux haemodialysis.14 High-volume HDF is an important part of cardioprotective dialysis, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular complications in dialysis patients.
At Fresenius NephroCare dialysis centres, all patients with a medical indication for haemodiafiltration receive this treatment.
Foreman KJ, Marquez N, Dolgert A, et al. Forecasting life expectancy, years of life lost, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 250 causes of death: reference and alternative scenarios for 2016-40 for 195 countries and territories. Lancet. 2018;392(10159):2052-2090. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31694-5
Kovesdy CP. Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease: an update 2022. Kidney Int Suppl (2011). 2022;12(1):7-11. doi:10.1016/j.kisu.2021.11.003
GBD Chronic Kidney Disease Collaboration. Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2020;395(10225):709-733. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30045-3
Hill NR, Fatoba ST, Oke JL, et al. Global Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0158765. Published 2016 Jul 6. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0158765
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2023. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2023.
Kim K CJLCNHAALJ. Epidemiology of Diabetic Kidney Disease among US Veterans. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2024;17:1585-1596.
Francis A, Harhay MN, Ong ACM, et al. Chronic kidney disease and the global public health agenda: an international consensus. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2024;20(7):473-485. doi:10.1038/s41581-024-00820-6
American Kidney Fund. Risk factors for kidney disease. Updated 2024. Accessed December 2, 2024.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Risk factors for chronic kidney disease. Updated April 3, 2023. Accessed December 2, 2024.
Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) CKD Work Group. KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney Int. 2024;105(4S):S117–S314.
A National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Prevention of chronic kidney disease (CKD). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Updated February 2021. Accessed December 2, 2024.
B Kelly JT, Su G, Zhang L, et al. Modifiable Lifestyle Factors for Primary Prevention of CKD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2021;32(1):239-253. doi:10.1681/ASN.2020030384
World Kidney Day. About Kidney Health: What Is Chronic Kidney Disease? Diagnosis. Accessed December 30, 2024.
Blankenstijn PJ et al., N Engl J Med. 2023; 389(8):700-709. Key results of CONVINCE study.