Nephrologists are the first doctors you think of when it comes to chronic kidney disease (CKD), but when your kidneys stop working, dialysis technicians are the care team members most intimately involved in your treatment. You will likely spend more time with your dialysis technicians, also known as patient care technicians, than any other person within your care team. So, what is a dialysis technician and what does their critical role entail?*

What does a dialysis technician do?

Dialysis technicians must become CCHTs (Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technicians) before working with patients. Some already have medical experience before becoming CCHTs. In addition to learning dialysis protocols, they are trained to deal with complications or emergencies that may arise during treatment, including administering oxygen and performing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

Whether you take your treatment in a center or at home, dialysis technicians manage your session and ensure that your dialysis goes as smoothly as possible. 

They do this in three ways:

• See to your safety 
• Monitor your health
• Provide nurturing support

Safety

Because many dialysis centers open early in the morning, some technicians start work in the middle of the night to prepare the center for your arrival. 

Before the center opens, dialysis technicians:

• Sterilize each station
• Set up the dialysis machines
• Test the machines to make sure they’re working properly

During working hours, they also:

• Sterilize each station again after every use 
• Re-check the machines and make sure they are functioning properly
• Monitor water values
• Add water softener
• Change filters
• Conduct chemical checks to ensure that there are no impurities in the water that’s added to your dialysate solution

Health

If you take treatment in a dialysis center, your technician will take your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and weight) and inspect your vascular access for infection before your session. 

During treatment, they will:

• Continue to monitor your vital signs
• Give you local anesthesia and other medications as necessary 
• Respond to alarms on your dialysis machine
• Address concerns you may have had since your last session

Any questions or concerns you have during your session can be directed to your dialysis technician.

Support

The importance of trusting, nurturing, and supportive relationships to your overall health cannot be overstated. You will spend a lot of time with your dialysis technicians and may form close bonds with them. This aids in the ease and effectiveness of your ongoing treatments. 

Technicians can also provide information concerning:

• Your recommended food and fluid plan
• How much weight you can lift with your access arm 
• Vascular access and catheters
• Travel tips for dialysis patients

*Blattman, E. (2020, May 26). Meet your treatment team: Dialysis technician. American Kidney Fund. https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-today/meet-your-treatment-team-dialysis-technician.html