ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
dialysis technicians;
training requirements
Purpose
Requires dialysis treatment
facilities to use certified dialysis technicians.
Background
The Council of Nephrology
Nurses and Technicians defines a dialysis technician as a persons who provides
assistance, under the supervision of a licensed physician or registered nurse,
in the care of patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment. A technicians responsibilities include
establishing access to the bloodstream and determining the amount of fluid
volume to be removed in a single treatment after reviewing established criteria
and physician orders for appropriate prescription treatment delivery.
Currently, several states
regulate dialysis technicians; Arizona does not regulate this health care
profession. According to the End Stage
Renal Disease Coalition of Arizona and the Department of Health Services, there
are more than 500 dialysis technicians treating more than 4,000 patients at 80
dialysis units in this State. Of those
technicians, approximately 50 have voluntarily sought and maintained
certification from the Board of Nephrology Examiners, Nursing and Technology or
the National Nephrology Certification Organization. Application for certification through either of these
organizations requires the applicant to complete high school (or the
equivalent) and complete an accredited dialysis program or at least one year of
experience in an ESRD facility or in nephrology technology, and successfully
complete the certification examination.
Last year, the Senate Health
and House of Representatives Health Committees of Reference held a sunrise
hearing to determine whether to recommend regulation for dialysis technicians. The COR recommended the Legislature require
dialysis treatment facilities to use only dialysis technicians who are
certified by a national certification organization.
According to the Department
of Health Services, there is no cost associated with this bill.
Provisions
1. Requires dialysis treatment facilities to use dialysis technicians who are certified by a national dialysis technician certification organization.
2. Requires the dialysis treatment facilities to maintain verification of certifications in the personnel files.
3. Defines “dialysis technician” as a person who, under the direct supervision of a physician or nurse, provides assistance in the treatment of patients who receive dialysis treatment for end stage renal disease.
4. Contains a January 1, 2003 delayed effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
February 9, 2001