Meet a St. Joe's dialysis tech
October 10 – 15 is Dialysis Tech Week. We’re celebrating our healthcare workers who provide life-saving care to patients requiring dialysis. Meet Jason, Clinical Nephrology Technologist:
You recently traveled to St. Kitts. Can you tell us what you were doing there?
St. Joe’s donated 15 dialysis machines and supplies to the hemodialysis unit at JNF General Hospital on St. Kitts Island. The machines were brand new to the staff there, and we wanted to ensure the team felt confident using them with their patients. We trained their staff for a week and spent additional time supporting them during real treatments with patients. The nurses and staff there were incredibly skilled, which made the process smooth.
Why did you decide to volunteer your time to do this?
Two colleagues, who spearheaded this important project, encouraged me to join them. One is Caribbean-born and previously assisted a Caribbean hospital, so really understands the unique challenges hospitals there face. When I considered how this project could benefit the dialysis community and the scope of the trip, volunteering my time and knowledge seemed an insignificant cost.
What was the best part of helping in St. Kitts?
The most meaningful part was the genuine gratitude and appreciation from the patients and staff. It is challenging to have a sense of normalcy with end-stage kidney disease. Without functional machines, patients were scheduled around the clock, sometimes at 2 or 3 a.m., whenever the unit could find time. The staff were required to match these extended hours. This had a big impact on quality of life for everyone involved. The team was very happy having the training and resources needed to maintain the machines. Funding and sourcing of parts can be a big obstacle. The solution was sending more machines than needed, using the extras as parts donors.
What do you do at St. Joe’s?
I am part of a team of Nephrology Technologists. We maintain and repair dialysis machines, reverse osmosis water systems and all related equipment. Nephrology Technologists also get to serve our patients in a clinical capacity. When in our clinical role we initiate, monitor and discontinue dialysis treatments. This unique model of care is made possible by our incredible multidisciplinary team. We take great pride that within Canada this model is only found at St. Joe's.
What is the best part of your job?
In dialysis we are lucky to know our patients very well. We see them on average three times a week for 4 hours. Over time it becomes like a big family. The best part about my job is when someone gets a transplant. We often talk about travel destinations, how they would spend the extra time or what they would eat. The last is a big one as the dialysis diet can be restrictive. It is truly a gift to see a person enjoy those freedoms after living with the difficulties of end-stage kidney disease.
I want to share my sincerest appreciation to my management team. They covered my shifts and made certain I was able to attend this venture. I want to thank the home dialysis technologists who supported me when I needed assistance. I also want to extend a very big thank you to the team I joined. It should go without saying that it would not have been nearly as successful without their expert knowledge, skill and guidance.