A handheld personal communication apparatus (30a, 30b, 30c, 60, 90) for dialysis is described. The device comprises: a reader (38, 42, 92, 94) configured to perform at least one of (i) read a marking (18) displayed on a dialysis fluid container (16) to acquire data concerning at least one of a dialysis fluid type or a dialysis fluid volume from the marking, or (ii) receive a patient weight signal from a weight scale (20) a processor (44, 98) configured use the at least one of the dialysis fluid type, the dialysis fluid volume, or the patient weight signal to determine a dialysis dwell time for at least one cycle of a dialysis therapy for a patient, the dialysis dwell time corresponding to a time to achieve at least one of (a) a specified ultrafiltrate level for the at least one cycle, (b) a urea removal level for the at least one cycle, or (c) a creatinine removal level for the at least one cycle and an output interface (48, 62, 102) configured to provide an indication to the patient of a completion of the dialysis dwell time. A method of providing a completion of the dialysis dwell time using a handheld personal communication apparatus (30a, 30b, 30c, 60, 90) is also described.
