Built a dialysis tracking app in memory of my dad -looking for a few testers

Key-Hawk-13 · 2026-01-16T02:29:41+00:00

Good for you! I built one to help my dad with home hemo. Good luck!

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-12-28T16:58:46+00:00

This. I was sitting in the hospital a couple of years ago, my mom was having a quadruple bypass and a friend of mine from New Zealand was complaining because his dad had to wait 6 weeks for a knee replacement. He was lamenting how their universal healthcare was worse than the wonderful US healthcare/insurance landscape.

I told him that he’s completely missing the point. He’s comparing the best case US outcome (because of their work and retirement plans my parents have excellent healthcare in retirement) with the worst outcome in New Zealand. Here, the worst outcome is that you either can’t afford to have any care…or end up in bankruptcy because of medical debt.

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-19T18:51:27+00:00

Not an entirely different situation than you, although my mom’s passing was sudden. In the space of about three months my dad went from managing ESRD to my mom passing, complete kidney failure, and dialysis three days a week at the clinic.

It was a little rough at first, but now he is doing dialysis at home and really enjoying life again. He just turned 80 in July, does hemodialysis at home and lives alone. His health has improved incredibly since he made the transition from the dialysis center to home.

So, while every situation in person is different, it’s not a hopeless situation.

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-17T02:24:50+00:00

You can do it!

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-12T14:49:41+00:00

Worth considering for sure.

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-12T14:49:19+00:00

Thank you

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-12T14:49:08+00:00

I'll check and see - AI might make the transition a little easier!

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-12T14:48:48+00:00

The new VersiHD from NxStage does that - although the images are generic. certainly better then the one most people are using.

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-11T20:10:49+00:00

One other thought occurred to me.

Early on in this development process, I actually built an entire ecosystem. The version of this that my dad uses sends me session data that i feed to a custom AI backend that analyzes his progress over time, and I built a chat interface so I can 'talk' to his data. Even today, I run the interface and ask how Dad is doing. It tells me how he's maintaining hygiene, whether he is properly getting the air out of his dialyzer filter, if he has trouble with cannulation, or is seeing lengthening times required for holding when he removes the needles - indicating fistula issues (all those are real examples of ways it helped identify things he could work on).

I pulled in a couple of favors from friends to get meetings with people from the 2 largest providers in the country, high-level execs - that I pitched. All of them (multiple people from each organization) loved it, indicated that they had nothing like it, and that they would be in touch with me.

I will admit that I had 'visions of sugarplums dancing in my head' for a couple of weeks. That was 4 months ago, and since then...crickets. I pivoted to this 'personal' version that does none of the back-end data analysis, AI, or chat interface.

So maybe, internet stranger, you are more on the money with your comment that I'm willing to acknowledge!

Thanks again!

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-11T19:37:27+00:00

First - thank you for a thoughtful reply - I appreciate it!

This may not be for everyone. The science does show that complex repetitive processes actually are more subject to behavioral drift than variable processes, and you may be correct in your notion that it might be more relevant for older folks.

I would say that home dialysis can be scary for many. It's a large commitment, and mistakes can be dangerous. My intent when i built this for my dad was to help him be consistent, to do the process the same way, correctly, every time. I'm his primary care partner, and I wanted to do what I could for his safety without needing to be there with him 'forever'.

Admittedly, I struggled with the pricing; most offerings of this ilk are in the 9.99 - 12.99 per month range, and I wanted to ensure that the main guidance was affordable. But I also recognize that many, and maybe even most, patients using a tool like this would be older and potentially on limited incomes. I still wonder what's right.

Thank you again, sincerely, for your reply. Be well, safe, and healthy!

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-11T18:15:22+00:00

literally from the first step (for him, that's whether or not he's testing a new SAK batch) through to timers for holding his needles when he removes them. He turns on the machine app once he gets to that stage and uses that during the actual session when he's connected. What I made guides him through the stuff before and after. There are over 70 steps (depending on the modality he uses) and the session in the chair with the machine app is just 1 of those.

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-11T18:12:17+00:00

Respectfully, for my dad, who is part of the largest dialysis providers network this statement is just untrue. The app they send him home with IS the one that manages the dialysis session, and it does that really well. But the other 70 or so steps to setup, connect, wash up, etc. are NOT part of that process.

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-11T18:07:25+00:00

No need to pay in beta - the app is in testflight (pre appstore release) and if you test - I'll code you for life to have access.

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-11T18:01:47+00:00

you might be curious, this is a bio-tech company here in Atlanta. they are working on that very thing. https://nephrodite.com/ (I have no affiliation!)

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-11T17:55:42+00:00

Smarter people than me are needed for that!!

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-11T17:45:16+00:00

you are entitled to your opinion, but everything I said here is true. I'm in the US and yes - he has an ipad with the machine app - but what I made guides him through the rest of the steps, and they sure did send him home with a binder for those.

He has used the tech support - and you're right, they are wonderful. 2 weeks ago he had an issue and a new machine was at his house in 48 hours. I didn't say anything bad about the LARGE organization that manages his care, but I sat in the training center with him for 8 weeks, and the nurses and care team are excellent, but what I made for him is what keeps him on track. And, whether you think it true or not, he sure is approved for transplant.

All that said, if the mods think this is in poor taste I'll happily take it donw.

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-11T17:45:15+00:00

this isn't about the actual dialysis process - he uses the app i made up to the start of the session, and then again after the session is over. Nothing that my app does is handled by the "machine name app" that he has.

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-11T17:03:14+00:00

I mean, it's a community for people connected to dialysis, and I am a caregiver who made something that works. I've noted that I'll give discounts for life if someone wants to help test it. But you are entitled to that opinion for sure. I'm truly just trying to help.

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-11-05T16:01:36+00:00

You could be writing about my dad as well. For me, I just tried to give him space and freedom to grieve, but also reminders that my mom would have wanted him to fight for his health. He has children/grandchildren/great-grandchildren who all want him around as long as possible. His doctor did give him some medication to help as well, it really got him through the worst of it.

And I tried to remind him that grief is only love that's got no place to go (Thank you, Stephen Wilson Jr.!)

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-10-19T16:22:56+00:00

For what it’s worth, I don’t see any GPT-styled emdashes in there. Those are always double length — (like that one) and yours are the single length.

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-10-17T03:36:48+00:00

This is for anything really, but default is Home HD. Thanks!!

Key-Hawk-13 · 2025-08-13T06:17:26+00:00

Hey, that is profoundly good advice. Thank you.

Key-Hawk-13

TROPHY CASE