How referrals work
Joining our outpatient haemodialysis clinic starts with a referral from your own doctor or renal unit. This page explains the usual steps from referral review to your first scheduled session in Bedfordview.
Starting with a referral
New patients join our clinic by referral from their own doctor or renal unit. We are an outpatient haemodialysis clinic in Bedfordview, serving patients on the East Rand of Johannesburg who need scheduled chronic dialysis sessions in a clinic setting. Referrals help make sure the clinic receives the medical information needed for safe planning, and that your renal team remains the decision-maker for your treatment.
The referral usually begins when your doctor or renal unit sends through the relevant clinical letter and supporting information. Once that information is received through the contact process on our site, the referral can be reviewed for placement into a suitable morning, afternoon or evening shift. If there is any urgent medical concern, patients should go straight to the nearest emergency unit rather than waiting for an outpatient booking.
- Referral from your own doctor or renal unit is required.
- Sessions are scheduled in morning, afternoon and evening shifts.
- Medical-aid and private patients are welcome.
- Treatment decisions remain with your renal team.
What we need to receive
Before a first booking can be arranged, the clinic needs enough information to understand the referral and confirm the practical side of your care. This is not about changing your treatment plan. It is about making sure the referral is complete, the booking team can place you correctly, and accounts can be set up in the right way from the start.
In most cases, patients or family members will also need to share their everyday details such as transport plans and contact information. Having these details ready can save time and reduce back-and-forth later on.
- A referral letter from your doctor or renal unit.
- Your ID or other accepted identification details.
- Medical-aid information if applicable, or confirmation that you are a private patient.
- Current contact details for the patient and main family contact.
- Any booking information needed for shift planning and arrival arrangements.
The referral process step by step
Once the referral is received, the clinic works through a straightforward process. First, the documents are checked to confirm that the referral comes from the patient’s own doctor or renal unit. After that, the referral is reviewed in general terms under the supervising nephrologist, with the registered renal nurses preparing for the practical side of admission to the outpatient setting.
Next, the clinic contacts the patient or family through the details provided to discuss availability, expected start arrangements and any transport considerations. This is also the stage where account-related information is usually confirmed. If more information is needed, the patient may be asked to arrange for their doctor or renal unit to send it through before a first date is offered.
When everything is in place, the patient is booked into a scheduled shift and given guidance on what to bring and when to arrive. Shift changes can happen from time to time due to operational needs, public holidays or patient flow, so patients should keep an eye on messages and allow a bit of travel margin especially in weekday traffic from Bedfordview, Germiston, Edenvale or other nearby areas.
- Referral received and checked.
- Clinical information reviewed in general terms.
- Administrative and account details confirmed.
- Shift availability discussed.
- First session date arranged with arrival guidance.
What you should prepare before the first session
Patients can make the first day easier by preparing a few practical items in advance. Bring the documents and identification requested during booking, and make sure the clinic has the correct contact details for the person who helps with arrangements. If you travel with a family member or transport service, plan your route to Bedfordview ahead of time and allow for East Rand traffic, rainy afternoons, and load-shedding delays that can affect lifts, gates or road congestion around medical facilities.
Comfort matters too. Wear comfortable clothing that suits a clinic visit, and bring personal items allowed by the clinic for your time during the session. Keep valuables to a minimum. If you are not sure whether to bring a medication list, a blanket, reading material or another item, ask through the contact page before your start date rather than guessing.
- Referral and identification documents as requested.
- Medical-aid details or private billing details.
- Transport plan for arrival and collection.
- Comfort items approved by the clinic.
- Questions for your renal team written down in advance.
How accounts and pricing are worked out
Accounts are handled according to whether the patient is funded by medical aid or paying privately. The clinic will usually need the patient’s funding information before the start date so that the account setup can be checked and any required administration completed. Private patients can also be guided on the account process before the first session is confirmed.
This page does not list prices, and charges are not worked out as a one-size-fits-all figure. Billing depends on the patient’s referral and funding arrangement, and the clinic can explain the general process once the relevant details are received. Where authorisations or other funding steps are needed, patients may need to work with their medical scheme and referring team to finalise them. It helps to sort this out early because delays in paperwork can hold up a start date.
After your referral is accepted
After acceptance, the main focus is steady scheduled attendance and clear communication. Patients are given their shift allocation and practical arrival guidance for the clinic. The nursing team manages the session environment, while the supervising nephrologist oversees care in the outpatient setting. Any treatment changes, medical questions or concerns about the patient’s plan must still go back to the patient’s own renal team or the supervising renal clinicians as appropriate.
If there is a problem after starting, such as needing to discuss attendance, a transport change, or a shift issue, patients should use the enquiry form on the contact page so the clinic can respond through the right channel. For emergencies, do not wait for a reply from an outpatient clinic. Go to the nearest emergency unit straight away. Keeping communication simple and early helps a lot and avoids last-minute confusion on the day.
What our Outpatient Dialysis customers say
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Questions we get asked
Can I book a session without a doctor referral?
No. New patients join by referral from their own doctor or renal unit so the clinic can receive the correct medical and administrative information.
Will the clinic tell me what treatment I should have?
Treatment decisions are made by your renal team and the supervising clinicians. This site only explains the referral and booking process in general terms.
What if I become unwell before my first booked session?
Do not wait for an outpatient booking if it feels urgent. Go to the nearest emergency unit for immediate care.
Also worth a look
Ask about a referral or a session time
Send a note through our contact form with your name, your referring doctor or renal unit and the shift you prefer, and the clinic team will contact you.
Open the contact form