Category Archives: Professional Certification

HDC on Safe Social Work and COVID-19

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Home Dialysis Central has published a blog post on Dialysis Social Work During a Pandemic: Caring for Patients Safely, thoroughly reviewing what are permitted and required by:

  • CMS Conditions for Coverage,
  • Social Work licenses and training,
  • Medicare reimbursement rules and waivers,
  • Patient and staff safety,
  • Home dialysis,
  • Effective communication,
  • PPE,
  • Telehealth,
  • Comparative advantage,

all in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Find the post at https://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/361-dialysis-social-work-during-a-pandemic-caring-for-patients-safely.

CMS Summary of COVID-19 Waivers as of 4/9

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On April 9, 2020 CMS published a document on COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers, summarizing relief during the current emergency from normal requirements, with the intention to allow healthcare facilities to focus more attention on treating COVID-19 patients.  Waivers for dialysis facilities are summarized on pp.17-19, and include adjustments to regulations for water quality testing, fire inspections, patient assessments, plan of care, rounds, home visits, special purpose facilities, PCT certification, transferability of professional credentials, dialysis in nursing homes, and many other details.  Find the document at https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA0MTAuMjAwMTg1NTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jbXMuZ292L2ZpbGVzL2RvY3VtZW50L3N1bW1hcnktY292aWQtMTktZW1lcmdlbmN5LWRlY2xhcmF0aW9uLXdhaXZlcnMucGRmIn0.NmtjnP-P1fvfNYld0nlhqMouY3FZb10Xx7Aull2AIwA/br/77281657281-l.

Healthcare Worker Scams

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The Washington State Department of Health has been notified that scam artists are calling various health professionals across the state claiming suspicious activity with their license.  Reports indicate that scammers are using department phone numbers as their own.  This appears to be part of a larger extortion scheme related to scammers posing as government officials.  This is not how WA DOH or other government or quasi-government boards, commissions, and agencies operate, and all health professionals should be skeptical of anyone making such demands.  Please be aware that WA DOH, boards, and commissions will never call you asking for your DEA number, private information, or looking for payment.  If you receive a call and want to know if there is a legitimate issue with your credential, please contact us at hsqa.csc@doh.wa.gov.  While WA DOH has issued this notice, it certainly will apply to other states as well.

NW18 1/30 CCCC Palliative Care Webinar

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CCCC will present a January 30, 2018 webinar on Adding Palliative Care Services to Your Hospice License in California as allowed by new California law SB294.  The webinar will be free to members of CCCC and partner organizations.  For details and to register, see https://mailchi.mp/coalitionccc/upcoming-education-opportunities-from-cccc-743973.

8/23+ IHI Certifications

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IHI will offer two professional certification and other educational programs during 2017-18 that may be of interest to dialysis personnel:

IHI will also sponsor two conferences on quality improvement in the US during 2017:

And two International Forums on Quality and Safety, in Malaysia in August 2017, and in South Africa in February 2018: see http://www.ihi.org/education/Conferences/Pages/default.aspx .

SC CHT Review Course and Exam

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The California Dialysis Council (CADialysis or CDC) offers an online exam for the Certified Hemodialysis Technician or CHT professional designation, the California equivalent of the Patient Care Technician or PCT certification. CADialysis also offers an online Hemodialysis Review Course for CHT exam preparation.  The Course also provides eleven CEU contact hours for nurses. For more information see http://www.californiadialysis.org/cht-exam/index.aspx .

8/31,9/15,10/13 BONENT Certification

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“Pencil and paper” certification exams for Dialysis Patient Care Technicians will be held by the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT) on the following schedule:

Exams will be held for Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/ Technician (CHT), Certified Hemodialysis Nurse (CHN), Certified Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse (CPDN), and Certified Hemodialysis Bio-Medical Technician (CHBT). Find the full international schedule at http://bonent.org/ppe-exam-schedule.php , application instructions at http://www.bonent.org/application.php ,  and the application form at http://bonent.org/downloads/application-form.pdf .

BONENT also offers Computer Based Testing (CBT) in the following locations:

  • California: Bakersfield, Burbank, Fresno, Long Beach, San Diego, Whittier, and Yucaipa
  • Alaska: Anchorage and Soldotna
  • Idaho: Boise, Lewiston, Moscow, Pocatello, and Post Falls
  • Montana: Billings and Bozeman
  • Oregon: Medford and Portland
  • Washington: Bellingham, Spokane, and Tacoma

Application and testing details for CBT exams can be found at http://www.bonent.org/cbt-exam-schedule.php .  The full list of international CBT locations is at http://www.isoqualitytesting.com/mlocations.aspx .