Hemodialysis is a medical procedure that is performed in order to help individuals, who have kidney damage, filter their blood. There are a variety of different medical conditions that can cause someone to develop kidney disease requiring ongoing dialysis treatments. A detailed understanding of kidney failure and the diseases that can cause it is critical to the ability of a dialysis technician to provide comprehensive care.
One of the more common medical conditions that is often seen in a dialysis clinic is referred to as nephrotic syndrome. This disease develops when the filtration system in the kidneys are damaged to the point where they are no longer able to prevent protein from leaving the bloodstream and entering the urine. Normally, the kidneys would give the body a chance to reabsorb filtered protein, but this is not possible if the kidneys have been damaged.
Nephrotic syndrome almost always causes individuals to develop swelling in the feet and ankles. The disease can also lead to extreme fluid retention that causes weight gain. One common sign of nephrotic syndrome is an excessive amount of foam in the urine. This foam is the result of an elevated level of protein. The lack of normal protein levels in the bloodstream is the cause of the swelling and fluid retention commonly experienced by patients who suffer from this disease.
There are many different medical conditions that can damage the kidneys to the point where nephrotic syndrome develops. Some of these include minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, amyloidosis, blood clots, and heart failure. Individuals who work in dialysis clinics are likely to encounter these illnesses at some point in their career.
Dialysis clinics in the United States have seen an increase in the number of individuals requiring treatment over the past several years. This trend is the result of a rise in the prevalence of common diet and exercise related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Because of the spike in demand for services, many of these clinics have been hiring record numbers of dialysis technicians to help meet the needs of the patient population.
A technician is an ancillary healthcare professional who is responsible for delivering routine services that do not require the expertise of a nephrology nurse or physician. These types of services may include vital sign collection, chart documentation, equipment setup, patient education, and psychological support. The exact responsibilities included in the technician job description are highly dependent on which tasks your local clinic is allowed to have technicians perform.
Until recently, there were relatively few requirements in order to become a dialysis technician. In the past couple of years, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services added language to their reimbursement policy which requires federally funded dialysis clinics to require technicians to complete formal certification in order to continue working with patients. Since the government pays for nearly 80% of the costs associated with dialysis, almost all clinics are required to abide by this new legislation.
While this requirement does create an additional hurdle for individuals wishing to enter the field, it may also have a positive impact on the dialysis technician salary and may serve to advance the dialysis technician profession. In general, advanced certification requirements lead to higher pay and a more competitive job market for individuals who are qualified to deliver care. Also, compared to other health professions, this requirement is still very minimal.
The main purpose for these new requirements is to ensure that patients are receiving care from individuals who are competent enough to deliver the highest level of service. Advocates for the technician profession have embraced these new requirements as a step forward for the dialysis industry. Official legislation has the effect of recognizing technicians as important to the healthcare system and will ensure that the profession continues to thrive in the changing medical environment.
Individuals who are considering a career as a dialysis technician should not let the new certification requirement keep them from having a positive influence on the lives of individuals who are in desperate need of the lifesaving care that dialysis therapy offers. Most clinics will help technicians acquire the skills they need to provide exceptional care and the knowledge required to successfully complete the certification process so that they can serve the medical needs of patients.
Those interested in the dialysis technician career field should take a proactive approach to learning about the kidneys and the dialysis process. Detailed information on both of these topics can be found by clicking here. This site will give readers a solid understanding of dialysis and provides convenient links to individual state regulatory offices and local dialysis clinics.
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