What documentation is required before starting a new dialysis patient?

Starting a new dialysis patient involves ensuring that comprehensive health assessments and consent forms are completed. The comprehensive health assessment is essential as it provides critical information about the patient's current health status, including any co-morbidities, prior treatments, and potential complications. This assessment helps the healthcare team tailor the dialysis treatment plan to meet the specific needs of the patient.

The consent forms are equally important as they ensure that the patient understands the treatment options available, the risks and benefits of dialysis, and their rights regarding treatment. Obtaining informed consent is a crucial ethical and legal requirement that safeguards the patient's autonomy in healthcare decisions.

Together, the comprehensive health assessment and consent forms lay the foundation for safe and effective dialysis treatment, making this documentation a fundamental requirement before initiating care for a new patient. Other options, while important in different contexts, do not serve as the immediate prerequisites to begin treating a new dialysis patient.