The Quality of Maintenance Therapy for End-Stage Renal Disease

Abstract

Prior to 1972, ESRD patients selectedfor maintenance dialysis or renal transplantation were generally young, emotionally and socially well-adjusted, and physically healthy exceptfor their renal disease. Following the enactment of Public Law 92-603 (1972), which extended Medicare coverage to virtually all ESRD patients, the criteria for the selection of patients were substantially liberalized. During the past decade, maintenance therapy has increasingly been provided for severely debilitated ESRD patients whose reported levels of rehabilitation have been less than desired. While the majority of the current ESRD patient population have not been restored to their premorbid levels of individual and social functioning, recent studies suggest this may be the result of initiating rehabilitation efforts too late in the disease process. For optimal socialfunctioning to be achieved by ESRD patients, it is concluded thatpsychosocial intervention and support must be initiated at the time ESRD is diagnosed and be focused on the maintenance, rather than rehabilitation, of the patient's functioning.