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.

New YorkMany 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)
  2. The Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT)
  3. The National Nephrology Certification Organization, Inc. (NNCO)

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

New York State SealPhone:          (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

 

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