NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2251
SPONSOR: Hyndman TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing
training and registration requirements for kidney dialysis patient care
technicians
PURPOSE:
This bill establishes training and registration requirements for kidney
dialysis patient care technicians. The rules shall have clearly defined
criteria for evaluating each trainee's attainment of training goals and
competency. The bill prohibits a person from using the title "kidney
dialysis patient care technician" unless they have completed the
requirements and registered with the Department of Health.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Adds a new Article 37-B to the public health law. The
provisions are as follows:
Section 3720 - Adds definitions for kidney dialysis patient care techni-
cians and kidney dialysis patient care technician trainees.
Section 3721 - The Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the
Commissioner of Education, shall establish training requirements for
kidney dialysis patient care technicians. Such requirements shall have
clearly defined criteria for evaluating and training such persons. The
law provides who may provide training of such technicians and the topics
to be studied by such technician trainees.
Section 3722 - No person may use the title of such technician or perform
the work of a kidney dialysis patient care technician without satisfying
the provisions of this act.
Section 3723 - This bill grants an exemption for certain technicians so
that they will have sufficient time to satisfy the training requirements
of the act. Further, this will ensure that there is a readily available
supply of such technicians so that such services can be provided in the
near term, but with the understanding that in the long term all techni-
cians will be trained and qualified to perform such services.
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, there are no baseline educational or training requirements
that need to be satisfied before a person can become a kidney dialysis
patient care technician. An individual is only required to complete a
health care facility based orientation usually lasting 6 to 8 weeks.
This may be insufficient time to properly train and orient such a tech-
nician for all of the duties of their job. However, the current system
expects dialysis technicians to be a fully functional team member in
this specialized field of medicine. Since there are no standardized
training programs, the existing orientation programs can differ dramat-
ically within a facility and between facilities. This lack of standardi-
zation can negatively impact patient care.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after enactment, with provisions.
