Planning a Trip?

Iowa’s Renal Disease Network—800-444-9965 or www.network12.org

UI Hospitals and Clinics transientdialysis@uiowa.edu

• Plan ahead! Many units require a two month notice in order for you to dialyze at their unit. It is never too early to plan your travel.
• Set the exact dates for your travel. Arrangements to dialyze out of town cannot be made without the exact dates.
• Do you need to get authorization from your insurance? Ask your insurance company. If you do, get that and give it to the social worker.
• Keep in mind that your insurance usually will not pay for treatments outside of the United States.

As soon as you know when you are traveling, locate the dialysis unit closest to where you will be staying. If family or friends are there, they can call local centers to see if they can take a traveling patient on the dates that you want to dialyze. If you don’t have family or friends in the area, contact one of these services to locate a center near your destination.  

• FMC Patient Travel Service—800-634-6254
• Gambro At Your Service—877-842-6276
• Davita Guest Services—800-400-8331
• The Nephron Information Center

When you call them, they may want to know:

• Your dialysis unit
• Your dialysis unit phone number
• Your dialysis unit fax number
• Your dialysis social worker
• Your insurance information- be sure to have your insurance cards handy when you call

Be sure to tell your local nurse and social worker when you are going. They will send all of the needed paperwork to the unit.

Travel Tips