Traveling with dialysis is a breeze with the Central Florida Kidney Center. The Central Florida Kidney Center supports transient patient services, ensuring you are able to undergo dialysis while visiting the beautiful state of Florida. Your treatment away from home at CFKC will lessen the hassle and stress of finding a dialysis center and allow you to enjoy your visit to the fullest. Our opportune location allows easy access to both the dialysis center and attractions in Orlando, such as Disney and Universal. With CFKC’s transient patient services you can relax and enjoy your vacation while ensuring your health is taken care of
1. Plan ahead.
It is recommended that you give at least one to two months' notice for travel.Talk your dialysis support staff for help finding a dialysis center in the area you are visiting, and schedule your appointment well inadvance of arriving at your destination.
2. Call to set up an appointment..jpg)
If you are an in center hemodialysis patient or home hemodialysis patient, contact a dialysis center in the city you will be visiting to schedule your treatments. Planning your appointments in advance will help you get into the center most convenient for you, in terms of location and appointment times.
3. Be flexible.
You may have to change the days you dialyze or dialyze at a time or location that is not convenient. Remember, they are fitting you into their schedule where they can. Units often fit visitors into space that is open due to vacation or hospitalization of one of their patients.
4. Be clear on your needs.
If you are traveling to attend a specific event, let them know what times you would be unavailable to dialyze.
5. Let your doctor know you will be traveling. Ask if they can work around that.and follow up to get necessary tests done as soon as possible (such as history and physical, EKG, chest X-ray).
6. If you are a peritoneal dialysis (PD) patient. you are not limited to a dialysis center schedule. Be sure to discuss your travel plans with your medical provider before leaving. Make a list of the supplies you will need before leaving, and have them shipped to your destination or keep them with you. The more you plan, the more you will be able to relax and enjoy your vacation once you get there.
7. When making flight reservations. ask for a meal that fits your doctor's recommendations for healthy eating. Most airlines offer low-salt or low-fat options. Bringing your own healthy and appropriate snacks will keep you satisfied while you travel. Airport restaurants and shops do not always offer the healthiest choices, and having your own food with you will be helpful if you are delayed in any way.
8. If you are traveling with a wheelchair or scooter. let your airline kn
ow that you will need assistance before arriving at the airport. Ask the ticket desk attendant to "gate check" your wheelchair and obtain a luggage claim receipt for it. Checking your wheelchair in will allow you to roll your wheelchair directly to the plane. When it is time to board, you can choose to walk to your seat or transfer into an "aisle chair" for assistance to your seat. Be sure to notify the hotel at your destination that you will be traveling with a wheelchair, so they can offer you a handicapped-accessible room. By mentioning this when you make your reservation, you will be more likely to get the room that best suits your needs.
9. Pack necessary medications and medical records. including your physician's phone number, in your carry-on bag.
Set up dialysis dates at the dialysis unit in the area you will be traveling Contact units in the area you will be traveling to find a dialysis appointment on the dates you will need. Planning your
appointments in advance will help you get into the center most convenient for you, in terms of location and appointment times. Be prepared to provide them with the exact dates you are requesting, the contact person at your dialysis unit, their phone number and fax number. They may also ask you about your insurance coverage.
Tell your dialysis unit support staff what you have set up who you talked with, the phone number, and the dates you will dialyze. They will pull your records together and follow up to make sure that you meet all the requirements of that dialysis center.
Contact your insurance company to find out the level of coverage you have when you travel out of your service area and to make sure you obtain preauthorization/precertification if required by your insurance. This is especially important if you do not have Medicare coverage.
Complete any paperwork requested by your unit support staff in a timely manner. This will include a Release of Information form along with any forms the travel dialysis facility requires.
Update medical records as required. Your unit support staff will let you know items that need to be updated (like an EKG or chest X-ray) in order for you to meet the requirements of the dialysis unit you will be visiting.
If your travel plans change, please communicate with the visiting unit, your unit contact and your nephrologist to let them know of the change in plans.
Contact visiting unit about one week prior to travel to verify dates and times (unless instructed differently from unit).
At the end of your last treatment prior to travel, have staff print out your current orders and your last three dialysis treatment log sheets. Bring these with you to your first travel dialysis.
Please complete this checklist prior to calling another center to to verify availability, and provide this information when you call:
Click the link to download a form:
Worksheet Visiting Patient Form Patient QuestionnaireOnce your current dialysis facility has the above information, they will work on getting your medical records and assisting you in meeting the specific requirements of the dialysis facility you are requesting.
To view the Forms you will need Adobe Reader, click below link to download/Install:
Adobe Reader
In addition to the Education section available on CFKC.org, you can learn about kidney disease through KidneySchool.org. Kidney School provides an interactive online, self-paced program where you can learn all about your kidneys and the functions they perform.
You will need to work with your travel coordinator at your home dialysis center to find one of our dialysis units with availability for your treatments. The Travel Worksheet and Travel Checklist will give you step-by-step instructions to make this as easy as possible for you.
It is especially important for patients who have private or group insurance (especially if you do not have Medicare) to contact your insurance company to check on coverage for dialysis outside of your normal service area. Ask what percentage they pay and if you need to go to a contracted provider or obtain a referral, pre-certification, or preauthorization. If you don't plan ahead and follow the procedure set out by your insurance company, you could be left with a large bill to pay.
Be sure to carry medications and relevant medical records, including your physician's contact information, with you on your person while traveling so they don't get lost in luggage.
Bringing your own healthy and appropriate snacks will keep you satisfied while you travel. Airport restaurants and shops do not always offer the healthiest choices, and having your own food with you will be helpful if you are delayed in any way.
Home Hemodialysis patients need to discuss their travel plans with their home dialysis care team to find their best option. Options include traveling with your own equipment (depending on which system you use) or arranging in-center treatment temporarily while you are away from home.
If you are a peritoneal dialysis (PD) patient, you are not limited to a dialysis center schedule. Make a list of the supplies you will need before leaving, and have them shipped to your destination or keep them with you. The more you plan, the more you will be able to relax and enjoy your vacation once you get there. Be sure to discuss your travel plans with your home care team and medical provider at least two weeks prior to leaving.
When making flight reservations, ask for a meal that fits your doctor's recommendations for healthy eating. Most airlines offer low-salt or low-fat options.
If you will need to eat as soon as you check in, make sure your hotel offers a restaurant with healthy choices. Pack enough food with you to cover your needs until you arrive at your destination.
If you are traveling with a wheelchair or scooter, let your airline know that you will need assistance before arriving at the airport. Ask the ticket desk attendant to "gate check" your wheelchair and obtain a luggage claim receipt for it.
Checking your wheelchair in will allow you to roll your wheelchair directly to the plane. When it is time to board, you can choose to walk to your seat or transfer into an "aisle chair" for assistance to your seat.
Be sure to notify your hotel that you will be traveling with a wheelchair or scooter so they can provide you with a handicapped-accessible room.
We do not administer medications hand carried by the visitor to guarantee proper conditions have been maintained for the drug. We would accept delivery from a pharmacy, mailing directly to the dialysis clinic.
