Setting Up Home Dialysis Programs: Now and In the Future

Home dialysis utilization has been growing in the United States over the past decade but still lags behind similar socioeconomic nations. More than half of dialysis facilities in the United States either are not licensed to offer home dialysis or, despite a license, have no patients dialyzing at home and many programs have a relatively small census. Multiple stakeholders including patients, healthcare providers and payers have identified increased home dialysis use as in important goal. In order to realize these goals nephrologists and kidney care professions need a sound understanding of the key considerations in home dialysis center operation. In this review, we outline the core domains required to set up and operate a home dialysis program in the United States now and in the future.