Technicians ,Its time to consider Mandatory Certification on a national level.We remain the only group of Technicians that are not required to have any certification.( SOME STATES REQUIRE IT) X-RAY TECHS,PSYCH TECHS,MLT etc all have to be certified...Please comment on this subject..I would like to discuss it a the NANT meeting in Cinncinati May 2005.

if it means a PAY RAISE,HELL YEAH!!!!

I agree with my good buddy mjpc 100%

I believe that pay will increase .My pay has increased but money was not the motivating factor. I am looking for reasons why you believe that Certification should be mandatory.PS My Physician is assisting me in this endeavor because he is pleased with the level of performance in Technicians who are certified and he pays us more money.

This may sound like a dumb question, but do you mean patient care techs or equipment techs? There was no specification as to what group you are aiming this at. Can you elaborate on what type of testing you think would be adequate for this certification?

Matt

The main push for certification is for PCT's. However, I personally believe that machine techs should be proficient PCT's first, and certified, then be manufacturer trained for the equipment that they are working on. Further mandatory technical certification may be beneficial in a few aspects but I feel it is mostly useless, unless it is predominately water related as this is the area where we are most lacking. I also feel that there should be mandatory certification for nurses, being an RN does not mean that you can do safe and effective dialysis. Again, water treatment should play a larger role in any certification whether its for PCT's, MT's or RN's.

Chuck

I am all for certification, and believe that we are all heading towards this, in all our areas of expertise. I am a CBNT, Certified Biomedical Nephrology Technician, and am the only one in my region. At least as far as my company is concerned. It was worth the certification just for the additional knowledge I gained while preparing for the exams. The certification process should be an external process, rather than something that the individual companies provide, otherwise we would just be giving our training process a new name. Lets not forget our wonderful Reuse Techs either, at least for those who have reuse programs.

Bioman,

As far as my 'clinical training' goes, what I know has been learned through the Amgen Core Curriculum and inservices here and there. I have never been 'on the floor' working with actual patients. We do have our yearly competency exams that include a section on clinical as well as water, machines, etc. but how much more involved do we need to be? What type of materials were given to you to study for the CBNT test? How much of the learned information actually made your job easier as an equipment technician? Please don't take this the wrong way, I would just like an idea of just how benificial this would actually be. I've been in dialysis for about 4 1/2 years now and feel I've learned quite a bit. I know I don't know everything, nor will I ever. I do, however, feel that for the most part I know enough about the clinical side to do my job efficiently. As far as water goes, I'd definitely agree with Chuck on that one. Water seems to be a mystery even to the trained professionals sometimes, let alone people like me.

Matt

I was talking about Hemodialysis Technicians,who work with patients.I think that Bio Med /Equiptment repair/re-use types should be Certified as well, but not required to be a Dialysis Tech. but a Bio Medical Repair Tech I agree with Chuck about Nurses They should be certified as well

GTSCSS,
I too have never been a patient care tech., there have been times however that a little more knowledge of the patient care side would have been helpful in diagnosing what exactly is occurring in certain situations. Expecially in the "operator error" areas. As far as studying for the CBNT test, I studied the Amgen Core Curriculum, AAMI Standards Vol. 3ialysis, various electronic study guides, Biohazard handling and disposal, and what ever I came across that I thought had pertinent information. As for making my job as an equipment tech easier? I don't recall making that implication, but all knowledge gained is worth the effort. It makes our job efficiency better, even if it is the smallest scrap of knowledge. I have been a Dialysis Biomed Tech for just over 8 years now and and electronics tech for 19 years. I certainly did not mean to impune yours or anyone elses efficiency or knowledge, and I apologize if that is the impression I gave. Our industry changes so quickly that a certification program would help keep us aware of changes, provided of course that recertification is required. Joe Smoe our in BFE may not have access to the changes in our industry the way the rest of us do w/o the recirtification process. Sad but true, even in our technological society. To me, it was well worth the certification process. Others will have to draw personal conclusions.

Richard

Richard,

I do agree that perhaps a bit more knowledge on the patient care side could help. What I've done to help myself in that area is come in with them every so often at opening to get a grasp on what they're doing and the processes they go through. It helps me understand what problems they can be causing for themselves and gives me an opportunity to teach them how to effectively troubleshoot at an operator level. Anyhow, I was just trying to get a little more info on it and it looks like you did a good job summing it up for me.

BTW, no offense taken. Sounds like you worked hard studying for that exam and it's nothing to be ashamed of. Really... no sweat, bro.

Matt

hey everyone, I was looking at your comments, and in ohio, you have to get certified after a year,of OJT. In columbus, at Columbus North Adult, they now have a seven month training course. with three months OJT. this is a new thing, the frist class was six months, this one is seven, and you come out certified though bonet.cost is 3,500 .
by the way,I hear that Devita,owns grambo, is this truth, :

traveler;

sounds like a nice certification program you have going there. Is this program specific to the Patient Care Techs, or do they offer the same for Reuse? Regardless, sounds like a step in the right direction. As for DaVita owning Gambro, no, that isn't completely true. I have been cautioned about discussing the acquisitions though, so I refer you to the Renal Web News archives. That should answere your questions.

Hey traveler,Your Ohio program is interesting. 7 month training program plus 3 monthS OJT equals 10 months. BONENT requirements are 12 months before you can sit for the exam. And at $3,500 SOMEONE IS GETTING RICH...

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck W:
[qb] However, I personally believe that machine techs should be proficient PCT's first, and certified, then be manufacturer trained for the equipment that they are working on. Further mandatory technical certification may be beneficial in a few aspects but I feel it is mostly useless, unless it is predominately water related as this is the area where we are most lacking.
Chuck [/qb]

Wow, I couldn't disagree with you more. I have a Biomedical Engineering Technician's degree, so I speak with some experience here. In a hospital setting, the biomed techs take care of every piece of equipment in the hospital. I don't believe that they train to be a nurse, but still take very good care of the equipment. As far as a certification not being beneficial, you couldn't be more off base. The one single thing that almost all equipment technicians lack is Electronic Theory. How many tech's can read a block diagram to troubleshoot? Swapping parts until the problem is fixed is NOT being a technician. Just take a look over on the Tech Board and see how many people talk about swapping 4 boards and a power supply and voila, the machine is fixed! That technician just cost the facility $1000's of dollars. I try to train my tech's to not replace a part unless they can demonstrate why they believe the part is defective. They may start out slower but in the end they can work circles around most others.

As for the Water Tx, the theories and maintenance there is pretty basic. Once you understand how a carbon tank, softener, RO etc work, there isnt much more to do other than monitor for problems and routine maintenance.

That being said, if my clinics told me I had to train as a PCT, I would probably walk. I have no interest in sticking people with needles (i probably couldnt do it actually). I have no interest in dealing with patients as well. Don't get me wrong I care about them, but there is a reason I went for an Engineering Degree and not a Nursing Degree.