CMS SOM App. H, Tag V693

Patient care dialysis technicians

must— (3) Have completed a training program that is approved by the medical director

and governing body, under the direction of a registered nurse, focused on the operation of

kidney dialysis equipment and machines, providing direct patient care, and communication

and interpersonal skills, including patient sensitivity training and care of difficult

patients…

Interpretive Guidance § 494.140(e)(3):

There must be a training program for patient care dialysis technicians (PCTs), approved by the

medical director and governing body and directed by a registered nurse. The training program

may be conducted at the facility or at another location. Successful completion of a training

program provided outside of the hiring facility, e.g. community or corporate-based programs are

acceptable if the program is consistent with the requirements at this standard, i.e. the required

components are included; the program is under the direction of a registered nurse; and, the

program has been approved by the medical director and governing body.

All PCT’s who are not yet certified under a State certification program or a national

commercially available certification program (V695) must have successfully completed the

approved training program before independently providing patient care. “Successfully

completed” means the PCT will have completed all didactic portions of the course and

demonstrated competency in the knowledge and skills provided by the training.

Experienced PCTs (i.e. employed as a PCT for more than 2 years), who do not have

documentation of having completed a training program in accordance with the specifications at

§ 494.140(e)(3), may still satisfy the requirement by:

1. Successfully completing a facility’s written exam(s) over the required content, and

2. A skills checklist completed by observation of the PCT’s skills by a registered nurse.

Successful completion of these exam(s) and competency testing would not negate the need for

these experienced PCTs to achieve certification within18 months of being hired as a dialysis

patient care technician, as required by § 494.140(e)(4). Facility policies and procedures should

define the curriculum, length of training course, and the method for determining successful

completion of the course.