Celebrating National Kidney Month: Presenting the Dialysis Technologist
The position of the dialysis technologist is a diverse and multifaceted role. They must be able to work well within multidisciplinary teams with high technical proficiency and understanding. In addition, clinical knowledge and skills are also required as the dialysis technologist can play a major role in the administration of dialysis treatments. Moreover, dialysis technologists are involved within the community (home dialysis), kidney transplant and microbiological lab work. All of these tasks require that the dialysis technologist possesses expertise in numerous areas within the healthcare system.
First and foremost, dialysis technologists are responsible for ensuring the proper operation and maintenance of dialysis related machinery. Some of the equipment would include the dialysis delivery systems, reverse osmosis water treatment equipment, treatment beds/chairs, ultrasound machines and dialysis access flow measuring devices. All of this equipment must be kept at peak performance to ensure patient safety and the highest treatment quality and experience.
Additionally, dialysis technologists work in collaboration of RNs to administer dialysis treatments. They have many clinical abilities such as accessing patient central venous lines, cannulating arteriovenous fistulae and grafts with use of ultrasound, administering anti coagulants and subdermal local anesthetic and changing central venous catheter dressings to name a few. This is made possible by a collaborative care model that enables RNs to delegate specific medical tasks to the dialysis technologist after they are trained and evaluated to meet The College of Nurses of Ontario standards.
Furthermore, the dialysis technologist’s skill set enables them to be contribute to essential healthcare outside of the hospital’s dialysis unit. St. Joseph’s dialysis technologists provide acute treatment support at many area hospitals, including staffing satellite units in Stoney Creek, Brantford and Ohsweken. Within the community, dialysis technologists will facilitate the contracted installation of electrical and plumbing requirements to make dialyzing at home possible. After installing the dialysis equipment, the dialysis technologist continues to maintain and support the home patient by always being available on call. Specially trained dialysis technologists serve as renal perfusionist and coordinators, helping to procure donor kidneys and packaging them for safe transport as dictated by the Trillium Gift of Life Network. To add even more depth to their occupation, dialysis technologist are responsible collecting water samples from all their equipment and processing the water samples to ensure that the equipment adheres to all standards for bacteria and pyrogens set by the Canadian Standards Association.
In closing, the versatility and scope of practice of dialysis technologists is demonstrated by the aforementioned outline. Having diverse skills has enabled them to contribute to many areas within the Kidney Urinary program and beyond. The professional cohesiveness with the RNs enables them to provide direct patient care. Also, collaborating with licensed trades takes them outside the dialysis unit into the community providing additional treatment modalities that can lead to increased patient well-being. Thus, proving the dialysis technologist being a crucial and diversely skilled group within our healthcare system to support the Kidney and Urinary patient population.