A handheld personal communication apparatus (30a, 30b, 30c, 60, 90) for a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis ("CAPD") treatment comprising: an optical or wireless reader (38, 42, 92, 94) configured to obtain one or more peritoneal dialysis input parameters by reading a marking displayed on a dialysis fluid container to acquire data concerning at least one of a dialysis fluid type or a dialysis fluid volume from the marking; a receiver configured to receive information indicative of a patient's response to dialysis including at least a patient weight signal from a weight scale; a processor (44, 98) configured to use the one or more peritoneal dialysis input parameters and the information indicative of the patient's response to dialysis to determine a dialysis dwell time for a dialysis dwell of a single CAPD cycle of a dialysis therapy for the patient, the dialysis dwell time corresponding to a time to achieve at least one of (a) a maximum ultrafiltrate level for the CAPD cycle, (b) a urea removal level for the CAPD cycle, or (c) a creatinine removal level for the CAPD cycle, begin a timer for the dialysis dwell after receiving a patient input from a start dwell input device (50, 96) that is pressed after completing a filling of the patient's peritoneum with dialysis fluid from the dialysis fluid container, and after the timer has reached the dialysis dwell time, transmit an output signal; and an output interface (48, 62, 102) configured to, in response to the output signal, provide an indication to the patient of a completion of the dialysis dwell time, wherein the indication includes at least one of (i) a display of a visual notification on a screen of the output interface, (ii) an audio notification via a speaker of the output interface, or (iii) a tactile actuation via an actuator of the output interface. an optical or wireless reader (38, 42, 92, 94) configured to obtain one or more peritoneal dialysis input parameters by reading a marking displayed on a dialysis fluid container to acquire data concerning at least one of a dialysis fluid type or a dialysis fluid volume from the marking; a receiver configured to receive information indicative of a patient's response to dialysis including at least a patient weight signal from a weight scale; a processor (44, 98) configured to use the one or more peritoneal dialysis input parameters and the information indicative of the patient's response to dialysis to determine a dialysis dwell time for a dialysis dwell of a single CAPD cycle of a dialysis therapy for the patient, the dialysis dwell time corresponding to a time to achieve at least one of (a) a maximum ultrafiltrate level for the CAPD cycle, (b) a urea removal level for the CAPD cycle, or (c) a creatinine removal level for the CAPD cycle, begin a timer for the dialysis dwell after receiving a patient input from a start dwell input device (50, 96) that is pressed after completing a filling of the patient's peritoneum with dialysis fluid from the dialysis fluid container, and after the timer has reached the dialysis dwell time, transmit an output signal; and use the one or more peritoneal dialysis input parameters and the information indicative of the patient's response to dialysis to determine a dialysis dwell time for a dialysis dwell of a single CAPD cycle of a dialysis therapy for the patient, the dialysis dwell time corresponding to a time to achieve at least one of (a) a maximum ultrafiltrate level for the CAPD cycle, (b) a urea removal level for the CAPD cycle, or (c) a creatinine removal level for the CAPD cycle, begin a timer for the dialysis dwell after receiving a patient input from a start dwell input device (50, 96) that is pressed after completing a filling of the patient's peritoneum with dialysis fluid from the dialysis fluid container, and after the timer has reached the dialysis dwell time, transmit an output signal; and an output interface (48, 62, 102) configured to, in response to the output signal, provide an indication to the patient of a completion of the dialysis dwell time, wherein the indication includes at least one of (i) a display of a visual notification on a screen of the output interface, (ii) an audio notification via a speaker of the output interface, or (iii) a tactile actuation via an actuator of the output interface.