Having professionally calibrated scales is essential to dialysis treatment. Dialysis patients suffer from having kidneys which can no longer effectively remove fluid. Dialysis is a process which filters the blood to remove excess fluid, but for this treatment to be effective, there are a couple of important measurements that must be accounted for: dry weight and fluid gain.
Dry Weight:
Dry weight is a measurement of a dialysis patient’s weight without the presence of extra fluid. Dry weight is prescribed by medical professionals after treatment has begun. Dry weight can be determined once some health criteria are met: normal blood pressure, absence of swelling, absence of lung sounds related to fluid overload, no shortness of breath, and a normally sized heart shadow on an X-ray. This measurement becomes the standard which medical professionals use to remove the appropriate amount of fluid during treatment. Ensuring that dry weight measurements are accurate is a cornerstone of the entire treatment process. Without an accurate estimate of dry weight, patients could have too much fluid removed during treatment, resulting in discomfort. Having your dialysis center’s scales routinely calibrated by state-certified technicians ensures that these measurements will remain accurate, allowing you to provide the best patient experience possible.
Fluid Gain:
Equally as important as dry weight, fluid gain is exactly as it sounds: a measurement indicating how much excess fluid a person has gained from normal dietary intake between treatments. In order to calculate fluid gain, weight measurements must be taken at the beginning of each treatment. These measurements are used in tandem with dry weight to effectively treat and reduce symptoms caused by kidney problems. Making sure that these measurements are as accurate as possible is necessary to maintaining a successful dialysis treatment facility and providing comfortable treatment to patients suffering from kidney related afflictions. Contact us today to schedule your calibration!