How to Rate Dialysis Centers

Dialysis is a vital part of the treatment for someone suffering from kidney failure. If you have acute kidney failure and rely on regular dialysis, you want to make sure that you are going to the best dialysis clinic possible. Rate several clinics and pick the one that is the best fit for you.

• Visit several dialysis clinics before choosing one to use regularly. Feel free to ask the staff any questions that you have about their facility.


• Check for cleanliness. Since dialysis is a medical procedure, you want to go to a clinic that is very clean and follows proper infection control procedures.


• Meet the staff. The staff of a dialysis clinic is very important. Make sure that the doctors, nurses, and technicians are experienced and professional. Nurses are the back bone of a dialysis clinic; look for a clinic that has one dialysis nurse for every three or four patients.


• Compare costs. The rating that you give each clinic may be influenced by cost. Find out which clinics are covered by your health insurance plan and calculate what your out of pocket cost will be.


• Find out what the emergency procedures are. Rate each clinic according to how complete their emergency plan is. Ask if an ambulance is available in the case that you need to be transported to the hospital. Also ask if they have generators in place in case of a power outage.


• Read reviews and ratings from other patients. There are a number of websites that allow patients to rate their dialysis clinic. First hand information is very valuable and it should factor into the rating that you give each clinic.