Innovation In Technical And Scientific Dialysis Speciality Qualification: Partnership
Approach
Balaji Jagannathan., WDHB, Fredric Doss., ADHB,
Dr Willem Fourie., Sandra Wilkinson., Diane McNeilly & Rose Arts, MIT.
Introduction
Graduate Profile
Clinical Physiologist Renal (previously called Clinical Dialysis Technicians) are members of renal
team. They perform dialysis for renal patients with both acute and chronic renal failure.
They provide care associated with dialysis in collaboration with other health professionals,
and contribute to training for patients who are undertaking their own dialysis.
By meeting the competencies of NZBDP the graduates on successful completion of Graduate Diploma
in Health Sciences and Technology (Dialysis) will provide competent and safe clinical dialysis care and
advanced technical management.
Clinical Physiologist Renal profession has been in existence as part of renal team since the first
dialysis service was established in New Zealand in the early 1970s. Currently there are 67
registered Clinical Physiologists Renal in New Zealand employed by five District Health
Boards(DHBs)
I Specialist knowledge
related to dialysis
practice
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of science
• Solve problems
• Apply advanced concepts within the specialist
area.
• Effectively access information relevant to the
subject and apply to practice.
The New Zealand Board of Dialysis Practice (NZBDP)functions as professional society for the group
and registration aspects are managed by Clinical Physiologist Registration Board (CPRB) along with
other Clinical Physiologists in the specialties of cardiac, respiratory and sleep.
Background
In 2005 Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) forecasted an increase in haemodialysis
by atleast 11% in the Auckland region1 and nationally in 2008 the National Renal Advisory Board
(NRAB) have identified a need to prepare increased numbers of clinical physiologist Renal to meet
the growing demand for dialysis2
Training of Clinical Physiologist Renal previously occurred in house as a trainee model within
Auckland Regional District Health Boards(ARDHBs) or overseas trained and qualified physiologists
were employed to manage shortages. Therefore a need to establish renal physiologist accredited
course on the New Zealand Qualifications Authority(NZQA) framework.
III Personal qualities
Qualification Development
 A partnership initiative by NZBDP in conjunction with Manukau Institute of Technology(MIT) and
ARDHBs lead to the establishment of a project team with representation from all these
stakeholders.
 The programme development team worked on the development of content, programme
structure, mode of delivery, graduate profile and assessments in line with professional society
competencies. Periodical consultation carried out with relevant stakeholders.
 This programme “Graduate diploma in Health Science and Technology(Dialysis)” successfully
received NZQA accreditation in December 2014.
 Clinical Placement agreement contracts were secured with ARDHBs.
Aim
• Work independently and in collaboration with others.
• Able to plan and achieve personal and professional
goals.
• Respect values of individuals, groups and cultural
diversity.
• Personal and professional integrity and ethical
behaviour.
• The ability to plan, prioritise and complete work
Figure 1: Graduate Profile for Renal Physiologist Qualification3
Programme Structure- Level 7
A steering committee with representatives from all stakeholders was established to monitor the
progress of the development and implementation of the programme.
Students undertaking this programme must meet the NZBDP competencies and complete course
assessments in order to qualify as a clinical physiologist in renal.
dult earning and ro essional
ractice
idence ased ractice and
esearch
ealth and
ellness
enal ailure and Treat ent
tions
 Have completed a minimum of 30 credits study at level 5 in Bioscience, and Anatomy and
Physiology.
 Evidence of an overall International English Language Testing System(IELTS Academic band score
of 6.5(with no score below 6.5) or equivalent.
Under the proposed education framework, having completed an initial qualification in health
sciences and/or technology, a person can change their career direction by completing the required
occupational domain skills and/or specialist competency requirements without necessarily having
to undertake a whole new qualification.
Future Direction
 This programme will caters to the needs for locally trained renal physiologist in NZ. Future
possibilities could include expanding this programme to encompass Australasia and the Pacific
Islands.
 This programme will be used as a template for the development of other Clinical Physiologist
specialty qualification and /or technical/ scientific workforce in New Zealand.
 This programme will be reviewed to deliver in block/distance mode to enable better flexibility.
enal cience
enal har acology
Entry requirement
 Hold a Bachelors degree or equivalent.
Figure 3: Proposed education framework4
The proposed education framework provides examples of how the proposed framework will enable
coordination, flexibility and adaptability in the health science and technical workforce, across
technician to scientist, and from certificate and undergraduate programmes to postgraduate
degrees.
Renal Physiologist qualification was developed inline with this proposed framework and seen as one
of the early implementers of the framework.
The aim of this specialisation is to prepare students with knowledge and practical experience that
enables them to meet the competencies for Renal Physiologists set by the NZBDP.
Implementation
The aim of Health Workforce New Zealand is to develop a multi-disciplinary education framework for
the allied health, technical and scientific workforce – a group comprising more than 40 occupational
groups, including medical laboratory technicians, prosthetics and clinical physiologists.
• Apply critical, conceptual and reflective thinking
to practice.
• Integrate knowledge to judge, assess and make
decisions.
• Understand own scope of practice and how it
relates to other health professionals
• Make appropriate use of advanced information
and communication technologies.
• Provide patient centred care in a culturally safe
manner
• Recognise the significance of the Te Tiriti O
Waitangi by upholding its Articles and Principles
within their practice.
II General intellectual
skills and capacities
GRADUATE
PROFILE
Proposed Framework for National Qualifications for
the Health Science and Technology Workforce
Dialysis
anage ent
Figure 2: Course Modules3
Programme Delivery
 One year full time study
 Blended/flexible delivery
 Clinical components in partnership with ARDHBs
Dialysis
anage ent
References
1.Business case renal technicians training scheme( 2005): Renal services, Counties Manukau District
Health Board.
2. The Australia and New Zealand dialysis workforce study (2008):National Renal Advisory Board.
3. Graduate diploma in health science and technology(dialysis) programme
handbook(2013):Manukau Institute of Technology.
4. Framing the future(2013):Proposal Paper from the Health Science and Technical Workforces
Working Group, Ministry of Health, NZ.