There's no place like home - Medibank supports dialysis trial
Medibank is exploring ways to provide greater choice and flexibility to our customers. Our dialysis at home trial offers eligible customers haemodialysis in the comfort and familiar surroundings of home, if their treating doctor thinks it’s appropriate.
As part of Medibank at Home, the two year trial program is launching in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, with the service being provided by Dialysis Australia.
Home-based dialysis is the preferred treatment location for many patients, and research shows that where it is clinically appropriate for the patient, studies have shown that home based treatment is equivalent to treatment in hospital and achieves high patient and carer satisfaction.
Medibank Group Executive Healthcare & Strategy Dr Andrew Wilson, said more than 800 Medibank customers have the long-term kidney disease and that’s why we’re trialling this program with some of our customers.
“Our customers who have long-term kidney disease on average spend between four to six hours per treatment, three to four times per week and we know how hard this can be for the patient, their families and their carer’s and that’s why we want to give them greater choice,” Dr Wilson said.
“We’re exploring home based treatment options, so our customers can have greater choice and a better quality of life,” he said.
Medibank has also recently expanded its Chemotherapy at Home trial program from Western Australia to also offer it to eligible customers in Victoria and South Australia.
“We’re providing eligible Medibank customers with greater choice and flexibility by giving them the opportunity to receive their chemotherapy treatment at home,” Dr Wilson said.
Medibank’s Chemotherapy at Home trial allows participants to be closer to their family and support networks and experience increased privacy. They also see reduced time costs associated with travel, waiting for treatment and being discharged from hospital.
Last year Medibank also launched its Rehabilitation at Home program which has seen more than 500 customers have greater choice and flexibility about where they receive their rehabilitation treatment.
