Sponsored by: Renadyl™
Do you know that dialysis patients have the right to file a complaint/grievance without fear of retaliation with the guarantee that their care will not be affected? As a dialysis patient, you have the right to have your complaints or grievances handled promptly and considerately. When you begin dialysis, you should have received a copy of your center’s Patient Grievance Procedure form. If you do not have a copy, I strongly encourage you to ask the administrative assistant at your clinic for one. You can discuss your grievance with your center’s facility administrator or kidney doctor.
Your recommendations, complaints, and grievances about the dialysis clinic policies and services may be addressed by/should be reported to, your clinic staff, administration, ESRD Network, your state’s Department of Health, or any other agency or body with jurisdiction over the clinic. Anonymous (if you do not want your name included), written complaints are also accepted in a drop box (there should be one in your facility) in your waiting room. Most issues could probably be reasonably resolved at the clinic level. But you may also contact any resources in this article to discuss your concerns. If you have any complaints or grievances at your facility, try following the steps below to resolve your issues.
- The first step is to speak with your charge nurse and/or social worker. Share your concern(s) in detail. If your problem is not resolved to your satisfaction within 3 days, then;
- Write out your concern and discuss it with the facility administrator (FA). If it is still not resolved within 3 days of speaking to the FA, then;
- Speak to your physician, the medical director, and senior management. You can ask the facility administrator or social worker for the contact numbers for these individuals. After speaking with the medical director or member of the senior management team and your concern is still not resolved within 3 days, then;
- Request a meeting with the governing body, which is responsible for the oversight and operations of the clinic. The governing body will make a decision based on the information presented. Should this decision not be satisfactory;
- Contact your facility’s corporate office for additional options/resolution.
- If the concern is still unresolved, notify the ESRD Network of your issue and why the steps taken to resolve your problem are not satisfactory.
- Unresolved concerns may also be reported to the State Health Department or the accreditation agency responsible for conducting surveys at your clinic.
- Phone numbers for the Network and State Health Department are supposed to be posted in your clinic lobby.
However, many people bypass talking with the facility management and contact the State Health Department or the accreditation agency responsible for conducting surveys at the facility. If you have any questions about your company’s grievance policy, talk with your kidney doctor
Learn more about our sponsor Renadyl here https://bit.ly/3sZDWbb
About the author
Steven Belcher, RN, MSN, MS, is a dedicated kidney advocate who began his journey 20 years ago as a dialysis nurse. This job inspired him to help as many people with kidney disease as he could. Not only did he spend two decades caring for a patient’s physical and emotional needs in a clinical setting, but he also educated the public on the risk factors of kidney disease. Some of his many philanthropic successes include being a keynote speaker at the National Association of Nephrology Technicians/ Technologists (NANT), presenting at community spaces, and launching radio shows.
He now focuses his time entirely on his organization Urban Kidney Alliance, which educates the public about kidney disease. His goal? To lower rates of Chronic Kidney Disease in urban communities in Baltimore, Maryland, across the country, and globally through education and collaboration.
Steve has also written the book “HOW TO SURVIVE OUTPATIENT HEMODIALYSIS: A GUIDE FOR PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY FAILURE.” You can read the book review here.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional prior to beginning any diet or exercise program or taking any dietary supplement. The content on our website is for informational and educational purposes only.
