Dialysis Care Team Essay
Meet the Renal Care Team
Experiencing a kidney disease is a way of life in itself. People with renal disease, whether on dialysis or after a kidney transplant, become detached from their routine life and are forced to adjust to a new world. The renal healthcare team plays a crucial role in helping patients and their carers adapt to their new life. While each team members has unique roles and responsibilities, they all work together to achieve one goal - the highest quality of life for the patient.
Members of the dialysis care team include the nephrologist, dialysis nurses, social worker, dialysis technician, dietitian, and the patient.
Nephrologist
A nephrologist is a licensed medical doctor who specializes in renal disease. The nephrologist …show more content…
He or she coordinates with other team members to ensure treatment plan is carried out. The nurse is also responsible for crafting and implementing patient education plan, providing direct patient care, assessing patient prior and post dialysis treatment, and training other team members.
Social Worker
Renal disease, especially chronic kidney disease, is life-changing. That is why a nephrology social worker is essential in the management of patients. The social worker assists patients and their loved ones adapt to the changes in their lives – and this includes helping them with the emotional and financial issues that are a part of kidney disease. They provide counseling to the patient and family members.
Social workers also address issues with patient’s healthcare coverage, patient resources, rehabilitation, and community services. They help rebuild the patient’s life.
Dialysis Technician
There are different types of technicians in some centers. Patient care technicians are those who are directly handling the patients and are under the supervision of a nephrology nurse. Biomedical equipment technicians maintain and troubleshoot dialysis equipment. They ensure that the machines are in perfect shape for every use. There are also reuse technicians who reprocess the
Experiencing a kidney disease is a way of life in itself. People with renal disease, whether on dialysis or after a kidney transplant, become detached from their routine life and are forced to adjust to a new world. The renal healthcare team plays a crucial role in helping patients and their carers adapt to their new life. While each team members has unique roles and responsibilities, they all work together to achieve one goal - the highest quality of life for the patient.
Members of the dialysis care team include the nephrologist, dialysis nurses, social worker, dialysis technician, dietitian, and the patient.
Nephrologist
A nephrologist is a licensed medical doctor who specializes in renal disease. The nephrologist …show more content…
He or she coordinates with other team members to ensure treatment plan is carried out. The nurse is also responsible for crafting and implementing patient education plan, providing direct patient care, assessing patient prior and post dialysis treatment, and training other team members.
Social Worker
Renal disease, especially chronic kidney disease, is life-changing. That is why a nephrology social worker is essential in the management of patients. The social worker assists patients and their loved ones adapt to the changes in their lives – and this includes helping them with the emotional and financial issues that are a part of kidney disease. They provide counseling to the patient and family members.
Social workers also address issues with patient’s healthcare coverage, patient resources, rehabilitation, and community services. They help rebuild the patient’s life.
Dialysis Technician
There are different types of technicians in some centers. Patient care technicians are those who are directly handling the patients and are under the supervision of a nephrology nurse. Biomedical equipment technicians maintain and troubleshoot dialysis equipment. They ensure that the machines are in perfect shape for every use. There are also reuse technicians who reprocess the