In kidney care, the HD medical abbreviation means hemodialysis, a treatment that cleans the blood of waste products and surplus fluid using a machine when the kidneys can no longer do enough of that work. It is the meaning you will meet most often in hospital charts, problem lists and dialysis unit notes.
HD has a few other uses too. Inpatient progress notes may write HD 3 for hospital day 3, and neurology notes may use HD for Huntington disease. The words around the letters settle which one is meant, and the author of the note can settle any doubt. This page starts with hemodialysis and then covers the other meanings.
At a glance
Stands for
Hemodialysis (most common)Other meanings
Hospital day; Huntington disease; less often heart disease or high doseWord roots
Hemo (blood) and dialysis (separating through a membrane)Where you see it
Problem lists, nephrology notes, dialysis schedules, progress notesAccess types
Do not confuse with
PD, peritoneal dialysis, and CRRT, continuous ICU dialysis
HD medical abbreviation for kidney treatment
During hemodialysis, blood flows out of the body through tubing, passes through a filter called a dialyzer, and returns cleaned. The filter removes waste such as urea and creatinine, balances salts like potassium, and takes off extra fluid that builds up between sessions.
People with ESRD, end-stage renal disease, often have HD at an outpatient center, commonly three times a week for about three to four hours each time. Some do it at home on a different schedule. In the hospital, HD may also be used for a short time during sudden kidney injury.
Decoding ESRD on HD and schedule shorthand
Dialysis notes pack a lot into a few letters. Here is a typical line broken apart.
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ESRD | End-stage renal disease, kidney failure needing long term treatment |
| on HD | Treated with hemodialysis |
| MWF | Sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday |
| TTS or TThS | Sessions on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday |
| via L arm AVF | Needles reach the blood through a fistula created in the left arm, where an artery was connected straight to a vein |
Nursing handoff: "ESRD on HD TTS, missed Saturday, K 6.0, nephrology aware." This tells the next nurse the person usually dialyzes Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, skipped the last session, and has a high potassium result that the kidney team knows about.
Other meanings of HD and how to tell them apart
| Meaning | Where it appears | Clue in the note |
|---|---|---|
| Hemodialysis | Nephrology, hospital medicine | ESRD, fistula, MWF, dialysis unit |
| Hospital day | Daily inpatient progress notes | A number follows, as in HD 4 |
| Huntington disease | Neurology, genetics | Movement changes, family history, gene testing |
| Heart disease | Some general notes | Cardiac history nearby |
| High dose | Pharmacy and oncology | Attached to a drug name |
Hospital day is easy to spot because it carries a number and often sits beside POD, postoperative day. When a note could fit two meanings, ask rather than guess.
HD compared with other kidney replacement options
Hemodialysis is one of several ways to replace kidney function. Peritoneal dialysis, or PD, uses the lining of the belly as the filter and is usually done at home each day. CRRT is a slow, continuous form of dialysis used only in intensive care when blood pressure is unstable. A kidney transplant replaces the organ itself. Many people with CKD discuss these options with their kidney team well before they need treatment.
What patients and students notice in HD charts
Dialysis records track weight before and after each session, the amount of fluid removed, blood pressure, and blood tests. The access arm is often marked so that no blood pressure cuffs or needles are used on it, which protects the fistula. Students learn to write the access type and location in every note.
Consider this background reading on a common abbreviation. Decisions about dialysis schedules, diet or access care belong to the person's kidney doctor and dialysis team.
More treatment and procedure shorthand is grouped on the surgical abbreviations page.
Frequently asked questions
In a chart, what does ESRD on HD mean?
The phrase describes end-stage renal disease treated with hemodialysis. The person's kidneys have failed, and a dialysis machine filters their blood on a regular schedule.
What does HD mean in a hospital progress note?
If a number follows, such as HD 5, it usually means hospital day five, counting from admission. If dialysis words are nearby, it means hemodialysis.
Is HD the same as dialysis?
HD is one type of dialysis, the kind that uses a machine and filter outside the body. Peritoneal dialysis is the other main type and is written PD.
How often is hemodialysis done?
Outpatient center schedules are commonly three times a week for a few hours each time. Home programs may use shorter, more frequent sessions, and the kidney team sets the plan.
Can HD mean Huntington disease?
Yes, in neurology and genetics notes. The surrounding history, such as movement symptoms or gene testing, makes that meaning clear.