Crit lines

[amullin]

It appears that many of the clinics are not using crit-lines,due to it being to expensive. My thought is that this industry has been profit based. Let me run this by you...

It appears the crit-lines may be expensive to the clinics. However, the govt. is the one paying the bills mainly. So they would lose one blood test. After all the crit line is giving you this now. It would also show that the h&h is current. Lose of epo money?

If the govt would at least make these companies have a few on hand.  It seems that instead of guessing the dry weight. These handy machines make it easier for the patient, ie: cramping and bp.

Am I missing anything?

[cschwab]

I remember this was the first thing that clued me in that something just might be wrong in the world of dialysis.  I remember thinking something just didn't seem right with the way they were taking my daughter's dry weight.  It looked to me they were putting a finger to the wind then flipping a coin to come up with it.

I did find out about the crit-lines back in 2000, drove 90 miles to take a look at one, then made a stink until the clinic manager agreed to bring one in on a demo.  We left for the transplant, I don't know if they ever got any.  I do know the clinic I had driven to swore by them.

[cschwab]

Arlene, your post stirred some memory cells and I'm recalling a couple of discussions from last fall concerning the crit-line.  Quotes and links:

From a Dialysis nurse with 9 years experience:
"I work for FMC and LOVE the crit line. In the absence of a crit line, all any nurse needs is some friggin' common sense to know if they are pulling off too much/too little fluid!!!

What the hell is wrong with everyone's staff???!!??  Honestly I find this whole topic very disturbing!!!!!!!

There is NO REASON dry weight should be a continuing issue beyond a couple of weeks.  I change at least three dry weights/week, minimum, based on crit line and response to treatment!!!!!

Find out if your unit has a crit line....if so, DEMAND you get to use it if you think you're dry weight's wrong.  If it doesn't have one, start a petition to get one.  Hell, PM me and I'll write it up for you and e-mail it!  If you get enough people to sign it, they'll get one for you!!"
http://www.ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=15981.msg280889#msg280889

From a dialyzor at Home Dialysis Central:
"Has anyone here experienced the Critline? I have, and felt better than I ever had as the Critline found a whole .9 that my usual txs were not removing, and through working with the Uf, we removed it. I have wondered if there is any place for the Critline in daily or nocturnal txs, because eventhough fluid is being removed daily, it does not necessarily mean that all available fluid is being removed unless proper assessment is used."
http://forums.homedialysis.org/showthread.php/117-Critline

[angieskidney]

I never even knew about crit lines until I started reading forums (think it was on IHD or HomeDialysis, which I do still go to the latter). My unit (all be it is in Canada) doesn't have them.

[cschwab]

I would have thought they would be more common by now.  I'm guessing a lot of it is not only cost, but people having a hard time changing their ways - get used to doing things one way and why bother to change.