DIALYSIS KONNECTIONS

Australian Dialysis Chair Exchange Program
This program has been set up to help Australian dialysis patents and their families 'konnect', to organise travel - to take a respite break, enjoy interstate travel within Australia or a holiday. Register for our pilot program to connect with others in Australia privately, to arrange a 'dialysis chair swap'. Your renal staff must agree to this chair swap. This Register is private, simple and easy. But first these are current listings for reference.

AUSTRALIAN KONNECTIONS REGISTER (updated 19 December 2011)

• Australian Capital Territory DUG - no current registrants
• New South Wales DUG - no current registrant
• Queensland DUG - no current registrants
• Tasmanian DUG - no current registrants, however refer S.A. DUG

Sth Australian DUG - dialyser from Hartley Dialysis Unit, Bedford Park (southern suburbs) wants to swap dialysis chair anywhere in Tasmania or Perth - any time in 2012

Victorian DUG - dialyser from Sale Renal Unit, Gippsland Victoria - wanting chair anywhere in Australia, for peaceful respite break.

Western Australia -a dialyser from Broome wants to holiday somewhere in Australia

STEP 1 - REGISTER Send us your Letter of Registration signed by your nephrologist and dialysis unit staff which confirms your health is stable and you can travel. (You may be asked to complete a more detailed request from the Dialysis Unit). Use our Australian Dialysis Unit Guide to locate any Australian renal or dialysis unit.

STEP 2 - ADVERTISE When we receive your signed registration letter, which should include details of your travel wish, we simply register your area of dialysis in the Dialysis Konnections Register (see below). The exact location of your dialysis unit is not identified - only areas and regions are noted. You can request a couple of locations, but can only accept one 'konnection' at a time.

STEP 3 - RECOGNITION Another haemodialysis patient wishing to travel (who must also be registered under the same criteria) sees your travel wish details and location on the Konnections Register.

STEP 4 - CONTACT A registrant makes contact with KHA requesting a 'Konnection'.

STEP 5 - EXCHANGE When you are identified as a registrant with a matching travel wish, we help you 'connect' with your possible dialysis chair swap partner privately, to refine plans, dates etc. You each then confirm plans for a 'swap' for an agreed time period with your individual dialysis unit contact to confirm and complete the arrangements.

Keep in mind - some dialysis units may:
- have temporary vacancies for a set period
- may require patient screening for communicable diseases, before exchange can be approved
- try to keep chairs for holiday patients *Refer Dialysis and Travel for a list of these Aussie Dialysis Units

SPREAD THE WORD! This is a new pilot program - we need your help to promote the 'chair swap' program. If any steps seem unclear, contact Teresa by email info@kidney.org.au or phone 08 8334 7509.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER

• Talk to your dialysis unit staff or Nephrologist before you start to plan any holiday. Ask them if they feel you could enter into this program.
  
• You may need to be flexible around your original plans to come to an agreement on exchange dates. You will need to swap exact treatment times with each other.
  
• When you register, you agree to allow your name and contact details to be given to another registered program patient who has shown interest in discussing an exchange. Make sure you are comfortable with passing on your personal contact details to any suitable dialysis swap partners before registering.
  
• No private contact details or exactly locations of dialysis units will be listed of the Register below - an entry will only list a registrant's current location and desired destination (See example in Register below).
  
• Your dialysis unit will have access to the necessary paperwork to send your treatment/condition details to the other participating unit. There may be certain conditions where the other unit may not accept your treatment.
  
• You must check with your own dialysis unit prior to agreeing to an exchange of dialysis chairs.
  
• Illness, emergency situations in the dialysis unit or some other situation may arise, where one of the pair have no option but to cancel your agreed plans, preventing the exchange. You would be wise to consider some form of travel insurance, or personal cover and savings, should your travel plans be cancelled.