Living Life on Your Own Schedule: How Home Dialysis Creates New Possibilities

Understanding the options

Dialysis is necessary when kidneys can no longer filter waste from blood effectively. In-center hemodialysis depends on nurses and trained technicians, as well as specialized machines to pump blood through external filters under constant monitoring. Patients must travel to dialysis centers, typically three times weekly for four-hour sessions.⁴

PD offers a different approach with flexible options: manual exchanges during the day or automated treatment overnight. Using the body's own abdominal lining as a natural filter, PD enables patients to dialyze at home with portable equipment while gently and gradually removing fluid and toxins — a process that more closely mimics how healthy kidneys actually work.⁵ For people like Pham, who opt for automated PD while they sleep, the process typically takes 8-12 hours.⁶

The impact on quality of life is measurable. Among working-age adults employed before dialysis, 68-73% of PD patients maintained employment at the same level compared to 57% of in-center hemodialysis patients.⁷ PD patients may have fewer restrictions on foods than hemodialysis patients.⁸ They also reported better quality of life scores than those on hemodialysis during the initial period after starting therapy, with differences persisting up to two years.⁹

For the nearly 90,000 Americans waiting for a kidney transplant¹⁰ — a process that typically takes three to five years¹¹ — PD offers additional advantages: It can serve as an ideal bridge to transplant and is associated with favorable post-transplant outcomes, including lower risk of graft failure compared to hemodialysis.¹²

From fear to confidence

While the benefits of home dialysis are clear, concerns about preventing infection and managing care at home may hold people back from exploring this option. Pham knows this intimately. "You kind of have to become your own nurse," he acknowledged.

The antidote lies in comprehensive training combined with peer support. Pham spent a week and a half training with the equipment, building confidence through hands-on practice. But formal training was just the beginning. Seeing real people successfully manage their treatment on social media helped Pham feel confident he could do it, too.

Technology meets humanity

Vantive's investment of more than $1 billion over five years in R&D and production capacity includes efforts to advance digitally-enabled home dialysis.¹³ The Vantive system that Pham uses exemplifies this approach, as it automatically transmits treatment data like fluid volume, blood pressure, and weight to his care team while he sleeps.

Beyond technology, Vantive is constantly exploring opportunities to support patients throughout care. The company provides services and programs designed to allow patients to live life on their own terms — whether that means continuing to work or traveling the world. 

Breaking down barriers

The path to expanding home dialysis requires a multifaceted, patient-centric approach to care, particularly for communities that experience disproportionate rates of kidney failure. Asian Americans like Pham are 1.6 times more likely to develop kidney failure than white Americans, while Black and Hispanic populations face even higher risks.¹⁴ Inclusive education materials and therapy demonstrations, peer support from patients who share similar backgrounds, and digital tools can all help patients make informed choices about their care. 

Even when patients choose home dialysis, accessing it can be unnecessarily difficult. Vantive advocates for policies that both expand access and remove barriers to treatment. Supporting home dialysis requires integrating technology, services, and education into standard care — with reimbursement models that make it financially viable. 

A life reclaimed

Today, Pham's routine exemplifies the freedom PD can provide. He manages his freelance e-commerce business from home without worrying about dialysis center appointments. His gym sessions help him focus on the positive. "Staying mentally and physically strong is my way of fighting back," he said. 

Beyond managing his own health, Pham is a source of hope. His symptom awareness videos have garnered millions of views on TikTok (@platinumkidney), creating a community where those facing dialysis can find practical guidance and inspiration.

While awaiting a kidney transplant, Pham refuses to put his life on hold. "Just because you need dialysis doesn't mean your life stops,” he said. “With PD, I can work, travel, spend time with friends — all on my schedule. I value my time more than anything."

Pham’s story embodies Vantive's mission: extending lives and expanding possibilities. As the company works to reshape kidney care through digital innovation and comprehensive support, patients like Pham demonstrate that dialysis doesn't have to mean surrendering independence. For the millions facing kidney disease, that possibility alone makes the conversation worth starting. 

To learn more about kidney health and peritoneal dialysis, visit pdempowers.com

This article was originally published in USA TODAY.