How well do you know your care team?

By TinaMarie Cerreta


Building a Relationship with Your Care Team: It's super important to talk openly with your social worker, dietitian, nurses, patient care technicians, and kidney doctor for your treatment to go well. Get to know them because they're some of your biggest and best supporters. 


The Dialysis Social Worker: These folks can help you in so many surprising ways. They give all-around support to people with long-term kidney disease. As key members of the care team, they usually have a Master's in Social Work and help patients deal with all the big changes dialysis brings, like managing emotions, handling paperwork, and finding resources. I know I'm missing a lot of what they do. They're not just there to listen; they're really talented at boosting your spirits![1, 2, 3, 4, 5] (My social worker is a true blessing. She is always there to encourage and advise. She cheers us all up with activities like BINGO and never forgets our birthdays or other holidays. She's smart, intuitive and just plain awesome at her job. We are lucky to have her!)


The Dialysis Dietician: is like "a diamond in your pocket." They know a ton about a lot of stuff. These dietitians, also called Renal Dietitians, make super personalized food and fluid plans to help dialysis patients manage waste, control electrolytes, and avoid malnutrition. They're a key part of the healthcare team, turning complicated blood work into easy-to-follow daily eating habits. (My renal dietician is a lifesaver! I can always check out a new recipe for problem ingredients and other options to replace them, with her. Like we found that I could eat a serving of mashed cauliflower and I could imagine it was mashed potatoes. It does stave off the desire to have a huge bowl of mashed potatoes!) They also help with meds and regular nutritional check-ups to guide you on that often tough journey to a healthier life.[1, 2, 3, 4]

The Dialysis Nurses: are super versatile and specialized registered nurses who handle life-saving blood-filtration treatments for patients with kidney failure. They keep an eye on vital signs, run dialysis machines, give meds, manage vascular access sites, and teach and support patients and families. [1, 2, 3, 4] They do way more than just take vitals and control fluid removal during your sessions. They know a ton about what to do if you're feeling crummy, can manage your medical records, handle your medication list, and do a bunch of other small (and big) tasks. They're a real asset to the team!


The Clinically Certified Hemodialysis Technician/Personal Care Technicians(CCHT/PCT): are some of the most talented and competent medical professionals. (And they're just really great humans!) They provide direct life-sustaining care to patients with kidney disease. Working under the supervision of nephrology nurses, they act as the frontline caregivers, spending the most chairside time with patients to ensure their comfort, safety, and hygiene during treatments. Many PCTs go above and beyond the scope of their job description to make sure their patients are comfortable and can thrive "in the chair" with dignity, care and compassion.[1, 2, 3, 4]


The Dialysis Nephrologist: I left the cornerstone of this whole operation as our bookend. A dialysis nephrologist is a kidney specialist who manages the medical care of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). They prescribe dialysis treatments (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis), adjust medications, monitor fluid balance, and oversee your comprehensive treatment plan to ensure your therapy safely replaces kidney function. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] They are also there to help you make choices on kidney transplantation issues. They're the experts. You should keep them close to your chest. They are invaluable to your overall kidney health and well-being.


So, now that you've met them, introduce yourself, get to know them as a person, also. They will guide you and often comfort you by helping you tackle the fear of the unknown or the uncertain as it pertains to your treatments. But they will always have your best interest at heart.


We all know it takes a village, and in this case, that's totally true. Everyone from the receptionist to the person who keeps your area clean and sanitary plays a part in your comfort and growth as a dialysis patient. You're in good hands, so relax and sit for a while... get healthy and rejuvenated. It's "YOU" time.

Here is my quote for the day:

"To handle yourself, use your head. To handle others, use your heart." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Have a very calm and hopeful rest of your day! Talk to you tomorrow.

TIna


My Links:

National Kidney Registry (main)

Tina's Microsite (personal)

(Please, please, please share these with everyone!)


Tina's Blog Link

Thank you for reading my posts

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