Patients who choose the option of home haemodialysis (HHD) attend a training program where they learn the skill of dialysis in a supported environment. Until recently patients managed by St George and Gosford Hospitals were required to travel to the Sydney Dialysis Centre (SDC), located in Edgecliff for this training. This was a disincentive for patients to choose this home modality.

St George, Gosford and SDC have entered into collaborative agreements to change this model of care. Home training nurses have been appointed at both hospitals. These nurses report operationally to the Nurse Unit Manager at their employing hospital and professionally to the Nurse Manager at SDC. The training manuals and procedures used are consistent with the SDC home training program.

Patients attend home training at their parent hospital until they are competent with the management of their own dialysis therapy. They then transfer to SDC to complete their training in a graduation room. At this time they are able to practice their skills in a simulated homelike environment, including the management of troubleshooting by telephone. On discharge home their follow-up care is provided by SDC.

This collaborative approach offers the best option to patients as they are able to attend training with minimal travel, whilst being supported by expert nursing staff. The success of this program is largely due to close collaboration and communication between the three units.

This paper will discuss the challenges in setting up and managing this exciting new approach to HHD training.