Abstract: Hemodialysis is used to remove fluid from a patient suffering from end-stage renal kidney disease. An optimization-based approach including a design of an individualized ultrafiltration rate profile may be used to prevent hematocrit levels from exceeding a threshold, thereby preventing adverse effects in the patient. The individualized ultrafiltration rate profile may be based on previously obtained clinical data for the patient, a volume of fluid to be removed from the patient, a specified period of time for removal of the fluid, or a patient-specific fluid volume model. The ultrafiltration rate profile may be time-variant over the specified period of time.