Overview

Home dialysis for children requires careful planning, training, and ongoing support from healthcare providers. It can significantly enhance the child’s quality of life while managing their renal health effectively. Home dialysis can improve the child’s quality of life by providing more flexibility, reducing travel to dialysis centers, and allowing for greater independence and family involvement in care. Comprehensive training on how to perform dialysis procedures safely at home includes: techniques for sterile procedures, recognizing signs of infection or complications, and managing supplies, medications, and equipment. Caregivers must ensure adherence to the prescribed dialysis schedule, medication administration, and follow-up care.

Practice Gaps and Needs

According to available data, the number of children requiring medically complex care at home is steadily increasing, with estimates suggesting that around 1.6% of children in the United States fall under this category, representing a significant portion of the pediatric population with substantial healthcare needs; this trend is attributed to advancements in medical technology allowing children with previously untreatable conditions to survive and live longer at home, often requiring specialized equipment and ongoing medical support.

With the growing number of children requiring complex medical care at home, there is an urgent need for current and accessible educational resources to enhance the quality and safety of care. The eHomeCare Expansion series addresses this need by offering comprehensive, on-demand training modules that cover essential topics, including central line care, home dialysis, infection control, boundary setting, skin care, range of motion exercises, and daily care activities. These courses are specifically designed to bridge knowledge gaps and enhance caregivers' confidence and competence in managing both routine and emergency situations.

Elements of Competence

This continuing education intervention is designed to change learner competence and focuses on the American Board of Medical Specialties' areas of patient care and procedural skills, medical knowledge, Institute of Medicine areas of employing evidence-based practice and providing patient/person-centered care, and the Interprofessional and Nursing area of roles/responsibilities.

Access after Completion

Upon completion of this course, you will have access to it as a reference until the course expiration date.