With in-center hemodialysis (HD), a patient goes to a dialysis center where a staff of nurses and technicians administer the treatment. During this type of treatment, the blood is removed from the body through an access point. The blood is then filtered through an artificial kidney, or dialyzer, and returned back to the body through the access point. The blood is filtered many times during treatment to remove wastes and maintain the body’s chemical balance.

In-Center Hemodialysis occurs in a dialysis facility three times a week, at a scheduled time, with each treatment lasting 3-5 hours.

The treatment is usually done during the morning or afternoon although some facilities offer hours later in the day to more easily accommodate people who are employed. In-center nocturnal hemodialysis (INHD) may be an effective way to improve patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQOL), particularly for those who struggle with poor mental health, according to recent study findings published in the Journal of Nephrology.