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Dialysis Technician Training in New York

There are no regulations that specifically address dialysis technician training and certification requirements in the state of New York; however, the state has included language in its nursing regulations that require licensed practical nurses to work under the supervision of a registered nurse when providing care to dialysis patients. An individual planning to work as a technician in New York may want to assume that similar requirements would apply to dialysis technicians.

According to New York State Education Law, all LPNs must:

1. Work under the supervision of a registered professional nurse
2. Complete proper training and demonstrate competence
3. Pass a written examination

Traditionally, the costs associated with dialysis treatment were the exclusive responsibility of the patient. Since dialysis is a very expensive procedure, most patients were unable to pay for the medical care they needed. In addition, most health insurance companies were unwilling to offer dialysis policies to individuals who were at high risk of end stage renal failure.

Many hospitals across the United States had developed dialysis boards that were responsible for determining which patients would receive treatment based on age and projected future contribution to society. This approach caused many problems in healthcare and led to the government takeover of dialysis reimbursement. Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) cover approximately 80% of all the expense incurred from dialysis treatment.

CMS regulations 494.140 (e)(1-4) state that the patient care technician training and certification requirements must meet these guidelines:

1. Meet all state requirements for:
   • Education
   • Training
   • Credentialing
   • Competency
   • Standards of practice
   • Certification
   • Licensure
2. Have a High School Diploma or GED
3. Complete an approved program that includes the following:
   • Principles of dialysis
   • Care of patients with kidney failure
   • Possible complications of dialysis
   • Water treatment and dialysate preparation
   • Infection control
   • Safety
   • Dialyzer reprocessing
4. Certification by a State or National Program within 18 months of employment

In many states, dialysis facilities are allowed to design and administer their own dialysis technician training curriculum. While training protocols are relatively standardized among large national dialysis companies, many of the independent dialysis companies may modify the training process. As long as a training program includes common standards for the delivery of dialysis, most state and federal agencies will continue to reimburse facilities. Individuals who plan to pursue the dialysis technician career field should at least understand the types of certification options that are available. Most technicians will work for 6 – 18 months prior to completing a certification exam. This gives them time to acquire the knowledge and skills they will need in order to perform well.

The three most common technician certification organizations include:

1. The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC)
   • Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) Exam
2. The Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT)
   • Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT) Exam
3. The National Nephrology Certification Organization, Inc. (NNCO)
   • Certified in Clinical Nephrology Technology (CCNT) Exam
   • Certified in Biomedical Nephrology Technology (CBNT) Exam

The quality of dialysis treatment across the United States has been monitored by the government for many years. Back in 1978, Congress developed 18 non-profit networks that were tasked with keeping watch over dialysis clinics in their jurisdiction. The primary role of these networks is to retrieve and analyze statistical information, promote rehabilitation, and serve as an informational resource for patients and facility personnel. New York is the sole member of Network 2.

New York Dialysis Technician Training and Career Links

1. Adirondack Medical Center
2. Albany Medical Center
3. Arnot Health Center
4. Atlantic Dialysis
5. Bassett Healthcare
6. Bronx Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare
7. Brookdale Hospital
8. Brookhaven Memorial Hospital
9. Brooklyn Hospital Center
10. Brooks Hospital
11. Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center
12. Columbia-Greene Dialysis
13. CVPH Medical Center
14. Davita
15. Dialysis Clinic, Inc.
16. Eastern Niagara Health Systems
17. Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare
18. Erie County Medical Center
19. Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare
20. Finger Lakes Health
21. Flushing Manor Dialysis Center
22. Fresenius Medical Care
23. Glen Falls Hospital
24. Good Samaritan Hospital
25. Harlem Hospital Center
26. Hastings Hemodialysis
27. Huntington Hospital
28. Innovative Health Services
29. Island Nursing and Rehab
30. Jewish Home Lifecare
31. Kings County Hospital
32. Kings Harbor Multicare
33. Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center
34. Lincoln Medical Center
35. Long Beach Medical Center
36. Lower Manhattan Dialysis Center
37. Massena Memorial Hospital
38. Montefiore Medical Center
39. Mount Sinai Hospital
40. Nassau Hospital
41. Nassau University Medical Center
42. Neomy Dialysis Center
43. New York Presbyterian Hospital
44. Niagara Health System
45. Noyes Health
46. Olean General Hospital
47. Queens Dialysis Center
48. Renal Research Institute
49. Rochester General Health System
50. Rogosin Institute
51. Rubin Dialysis
52. Southampton Hospital
53. St. Barnabas Hospital
54. St. Catherine of Siena
55. St. James Mercy Hospital
56. St. Joseph’s Hospital
57. Terrence Cardinal Cooke Health Center
58. The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo
59. UHS
60. Unity Health System
61. US Renal Care
62. Weiss Renal Center
63. Winthrop University Hospital Center
64. WCA Hospital

State Contact Information

Phone:          (518) 474-3817   ext 120
Fax:               (518) 474-3706
Email:           nursebd@mail.nysed.gov

89 Washington Ave     Albany, NY 12234-1000

Web Site:     New York Board of Nursing

National Network:   Network 2