Is it legal for Davita to do these things??

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My fiance recently quit Davita after just 6 weeks of training, he left his job at Davita without having another one lined up (he has a family to take care of). He said he'd rather be homeless than work for Davita, this coming from a person who is very much in love with money. He was talking to me before he went to bed about some of the things that go on at that place. Like for instance there was no pausing the machines when a patient had to use the bathroom, they just lost that time. Or the fact there was no spill kits, he had to get on his hands and knees pour bleach on blood spills and throw pillow cases on it then scrape it up? There was a lot more, but I would be writing a book. He was in tears talking about all the sick and immoral things that go on at the facility. HOW ARE THESE THINGS LEGAL?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

If you have the time, click on the following links to read about this phenomenon:

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/12/-8220-god-help-you-you-39-re-on-dialysis-8221/8308/

https://allnurses.com/nursing-news/god-help-you-518057.html

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Specializes in Dialysis (acute & chronic).
My fiance recently quit Davita after just 6 weeks of training, he left his job at Davita without having another one lined up (he has a family to take care of). He said he'd rather be homeless than work for Davita, this coming from a person who is very much in love with money. He was talking to me before he went to bed about some of the things that go on at that place. Like for instance there was no pausing the machines when a patient had to use the bathroom, they just lost that time. Or the fact there was no spill kits, he had to get on his hands and knees pour bleach on blood spills and throw pillow cases on it then scrape it up? There was a lot more, but I would be writing a book. He was in tears talking about all the sick and immoral things that go on at the facility. HOW ARE THESE THINGS LEGAL?

First thing I would have to ask is what does the units policy and procedure say about taking patients off the machine to use the bathroom. I have seen it both ways - time placed on hold and time running.

The other thing I have to ask is what kind of blood spill is there that is requiring a blood spill kit - that is not good!.. You might see a splatter or drip, but should not see huge spills of blood. Is someone not clamping lines properly? In over 25+ years of dialysis, I have never used or seen someone using a blood spill kit.

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First thing I would have to ask is what does the units policy and procedure say about taking patients off the machine to use the bathroom. I have seen it both ways - time placed on hold and time running.

The other thing I have to ask is what kind of blood spill is there that is requiring a blood spill kit - that is not good!.. You might see a splatter or drip, but should not see huge spills of blood. Is someone not clamping lines properly? In over 25+ years of dialysis, I have never used or seen someone using a blood spill kit.

I guess the policy is to keep time running, and POOLS of blood.

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Specializes in Dialysis (acute & chronic).

There should not be pools of blood anywhere.

Are the lines taped securely? Did someone forget to clamp a line before disconnecting it?....this is of great concern that procedures are not being done correctly.

This is not the norm!

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Specializes in Dialysis (acute & chronic).

If the policy states to keep the time running, then that is what needs to be done. These policies are approved by the Medical Director and Medical Advisory Boards.

I would keep it running then.

In the past, I had patients that wanted to get off the machines to go to the bathroom to do illegal drugs....we knew it, but could not prove it. Many of these drugs get dialyzed out of their systems and they need to get their fix. So why should the next patient waiting to get on the machine have to wait for behaviors like this!

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I have been considering a position in a small dialysis clinic but have been hesitant for several reasons..this news makes things even more difficult...if the good nurses leave how will things change? who will fend for these patients and yet, how can the good nurses stay when their health and professional careers are jeopardized?

Other than this position, my only other option right now is a PRN hospital job that I don't think can work me enough to cover basics. I have no idea what to do. But this healthcare system of ours is definitely broken.

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Specializes in Dialysis (acute & chronic).

I have been in dialysis for 20+ years and I LOVE IT.

You will notice there is a lot of negative posts on here, more so than positive ones. It seems that many people like to complain about dialysis, than praise their job.

Many people think they would get into dialysis for an "easy" job, but it is a very busy job and sometime long hours. I have been able to do dialysis, be pregnant and raise 2 kids without any problem. You need to know how to manage your time.

For the ones that come on the boards to complain, I feel they need to maybe find a new career path, that dialysis is not for them. There is a saying in dialysis, YOU EITHER LOVE IT OR HATE IT. If you last a year, you will be a life-timer.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

You could always drop a dime and call the state. Every aspect of dialysis is governed by regulatory agencies and if the things he describes are truly happening there should be other witnesses than your boyfriend. I'm no fan of Davita but clinics are under alot of pressure to make even a small profit. I've read that the medicare reimbursement rate for one treatment is around 130 dollars. Medicare reasons that as long as new clinics are opening then there is still a profit that can be made. It doesn't justify what you describe but I can certainly understand why quality takes a backseat to profitability. Dialysis used to be a bridge to transplantation but now it is a right without any responsibilties on the part of the patient. Eat whatever you want, don't take you're binders, skip treatments and expect the "system" to fix you, I mean what could go wrong with that? I have seen huge blood spills. A patient who wanted to come off the machine ripped both of his needles out. Spill kit? We needed a fire hose to clean that up.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
HOW ARE THESE THINGS LEGAL?

Click on the link below to read a very informative blog written by one of our members. It concerns dialysis, the new payment structure, and the challenges it brings in caring for these patients.

https://allnurses.com/nursing-blogs/bundling-renal-community-626477.html

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Now I can completely understand how these things I've stated he's said seem over exaggerated or a lie. But I swear it's not. The things he told me that went on brought him to tears. He said morally he could not bring himself to work for Davita. The not stopping of the machines seemed wrong to him. The reuse of Dialyzers, disgusted him. He was supposed to start work at 4 am but came in 1 hour early on his own time to set up machines because Davita did not give them enough time to do it when they first arrived before the first patient. He said his trainer almost let air into a pt but caught it last second because they're so overworked they do not have time to pay close attention to each pt.

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