Are you moving? Planning a trip? Looking for information about dialysis? Need to find a new dialysis center? The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently updated its Dialysis Facility Compare (or “Compare Dialysis Facilities in Your Area”) feature on the Medicare.gov Web site. Dialysis Facility Compare, or DFC for short, can be found at www.medicare.gov/dialysis. DFC includes all Medicare-certified dialysis centers in the United States. You can find services and quality information to help you compare centers and decide which one to choose. Plus, DFC has resources and tips to help you make informed choices about your care.

Find Answers

When you visit the Web site, click on the Resources tab at the top of each page, and look inside the blue bar. There are eight sections or links you can click on to get information. The “Frequently Asked Questions” section (or link) lets you look up answers to kidney questions and even sign up to get an email when new questions and answers are added. The “Related Web sites” link will take you to other helpful sites—like AAKP. The “Glossary” link defines words used on DFC, and the “Kidney Dictionary” link will help you with other terms.

You have the right to know your treatment options, to choose a treatment that works best for you, and to ask questions. The Resources tab of DFC also has a “Quality Concerns” section or link that tells you who you can call with your questions or concerns. The “Patient’s Rights” section details what you can expect from a center—and your responsibilities, too. The DFC “Patient Checklists” link can help you think of questions to ask your care team and decide if a certain center is right for you. Click on the “Publications” link under the Resources tab to find a table that lists 10 Medicare booklets and brochures you can download and print from your computer or you can call 1-800-Medicare to request free copies.

Compare Quality

From the DFC welcome page click on the “Find” tab dialysis centers by name, city or zip code, or by state or county. You can also select a search distance. Once you decide how to search, click “Next Step,” and DFC will show you how many centers you can choose from. From this list, pick up to 10 centers to learn about. Click “Next Step”—then choose the “Compare Quality” tab at the top of the page. Read this page and scroll down to click on one or  more of the three quality links: Anemia, Adequacy and Patient Survival .

DFC quality measures tell you about the care a center gives to its patients. The three quality measures are compared in tables to other centers nearby and at the state and national level. This information is one tool you can use to compare dialysis centers. When you choose the “Compare Services” link at the top of the page, you’ll see a table with each center’s address and phone number. The table also compares hours, ownership, types of treatment, number of chairs, and whether a center has shifts that start after 5 p.m. (useful if you would like to get your dialysis in the evening, for example, if that would help you keep a job during the day). From the table, you can also see a profile of each dialysis center.

Choose Wisely

Dialysis Facility Compare can help you choose a center that meets your needs and your lifestyle. Using DFC, you can find centers that are nearby, offer services you want, and provide high quality care. When you have questions about your care, go to Dialysis Facility Compare.

Dori Schatell, MS, is the Executive Director of the Medical Education Institute. She has a lifelong interest in medicine and experience of more than 14 years as a senior medical writer and research program manager.

 Kristi Klicko is a Senior Project Manager for the Medical Education Institute. She has experience managing all facets of research for the Institute.

This article originally appeared in the November 2006 of aakpRENALIFE.