Daily hemodialysis: A dialysis provider perspective

Regardless of size, ownership or corporate structure, the goal of the dialy sis provider is to deliver the best renal substitution therapy in the safes t and most convenient manner, at a cost commensurate with reimbursement. Th is paper reviews the available data on daily hemodialysis, focusing on its ability to satisfy this goal. In addition, it examines the potential influe nce of frequency, time, and dose of dialysis an clinical outcomes of variou s series over the last 3 decades. The available data strongly suggest the c linical benefits of daily hemodialysis, but are not sufficient to show stat istically better outcomes. Under the present reimbursement system, daily he modialysis is not economically feasible in the United States. Prospective c linical trials designed to prove the benefits of these therapies and justif y their reimbursement are needed. (C) 2001 by the National Kidney Foundatio n, Inc.