One thing that can make skilled nursing much easier for patients who need dialysis is having the treatment right onsite at their facilities. This ensures patients don’t need to go through the stress and hassle of an offsite dialysis appointment when trying to recover or manage chronic conditions.
Haven Health proudly offers onsite dialysis in two of our locations: Haven Health Tucson, and at our Sky Harbor location in Phoenix. Understanding how dialysis treatment at our facilities works, the benefits of onsite treatment, and how our outstanding staff support those who need dialysis can bring some much-needed peace of mind to worried families.
If you’re on dialysis and need skilled nursing care or you love someone who does, contact Haven Health today to ask any questions you may have or for a tour of our facility. And if you’re wondering “How does dialysis work?” read on to learn more about this fascinating and lifesaving process and how we practice it at our facilities.
What Is Dialysis And Why Might Seniors Need It?
Dialysis is a treatment that cleans the blood when the kidneys are unable to do so. The job of our kidneys is to filter waste products in the blood, as well as regulate hydration and mineral levels. A dialysis machine mimics this process and acts as an artificial kidney.
Seniors most often need dialysis due to late stage kidney disease. In seniors, kidney disease can be especially dangerous as it can compound with other chronic conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Many seniors may need dialysis multiple times a week. Most often, people need dialysis about three times a week for sessions lasting multiple hours. This is why skilled nursing residents benefit from onsite facilities.
How Does A Dialysis Machine Work?
A dialysis machine works like an artificial kidney. Blood is drawn from the body and passed through the machine. Inside the machine is a filter or series of filters that cleans the blood. This newly cleaned blood is then pumped back into the body.
The typical process takes about three to four hours, and blood is passed through filters multiple times. Modern dialysis machines, like the ones we use at Haven Health, have numerous monitoring systems that make them safe and comfortable for patients. If anything goes wrong, an alarm may sound, alerting staff.
Dialysis was invented by Dr. Willem Kolff in the Netherlands in the early 1940s.
How Dialysis Is Administered In Skilled Nursing Facilities Like Haven Health
At our Haven Health facilities, dialysis is administered with the same clinical precision as in a hospital facility. Our onsite process is carefully coordinated for each patient based on individualized treatment plans, involving staff, technicians, our doctors, and your medical team.
Before each session, our care team conducts thorough assessments of all our patients, including vitals, medications, and more to ensure our patients are medically ready for the process. Our modern and sophisticated dialysis machines are top-of-the-line and programmed to each patient’s needs.
During treatment, we aim to make our patients as comfortable, entertained, and private as possible. We always try to make any accommodations our patients may need, and because our facilities are onsite, there is much less disruption to daily care than offsite facilities.
The Role Of Our Care Team
The care team at any dialysis facility can make or break the experience. A good team can make a difficult situation feel like a breeze, and a bad team can make a tough situation worse.
Our care team is the jewel of our organization. We strive not only to be certified and expertly trained, but kind and friendly as well. We know dialysis can be a tough process for anyone, and we try to make our patients comfortable, respected, and happy as possible.
Our care teams provide comprehensive support during dialysis treatment, as well as before and after the process. Because our facilities are onsite, continuity of care is better managed and any issues can be monitored for longer, often by the same staff.
It should also be noted that in skilled nursing facilities like ours, care is provided by licensed and registered nurses. Doctors oversee our care teams, and our support staff is highly trained.
Consider Haven Health For Safe, Comfortable, Supervised Dialysis Treatment
If you or your loved ones need skilled nursing treatment as well as dialysis, think Haven Health. Our Phoenix Sky Harbor and Tucson locations both offer onsite dialysis treatment to reduce the stress of offsite dialysis for our patients.
Sources:
Chronic Kidney Disease. (2026).
Dialysis. (2023).
Sharma, N., et al. (2024). Dr. Willem Kolff: The Father of the Artificial Kidney