Dialysis Technicians

There should continue to be a need for dialysis technicians in the future as the number of people with kidney disease and failure increases. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that about 35.5 million U.S. adults had chronic kidney disease—more than one in seven people. The principal causes of kidney failure, according to the National Kidney Foundation, are diabetes and high blood pressure. Those with kidney failure must have either dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to live. This steadily increasing number of patients in need will mean a continued demand for dialysis technicians.

Technicians make up the largest proportion of the dialysis team, since they can care for only a limited number of patients at a time (the ratio of patient-care technicians to nurses is generally about four to one). However, since this is a relatively small field, the total number of new jobs won't be great. There is also a high turnover rate in the field, creating many new job openings. Lastly, there is a shortage of trained dialysis technicians in most localities.

A factor that may decrease employment demand is the further development of procedures that may remove the need for dialysis treatments in health care facilities. For instance, if the number of individuals able to participate in home dialysis increases, the staffing requirements and number of dialysis facilities would be affected. Similarly, the growing use of peritoneal dialysis threatens the need for dialysis technicians. In this process the membrane used is the peritoneum (the lining of the abdomen), and the dialysis process takes place within, rather than outside, the patient's body. An increase in the number of kidney transplants could also slow the future demand for dialysis technicians. However, the number of people waiting for transplants is far greater than the number of organs available. Until researchers discover a cure for kidney disease, dialysis technicians will be needed to administer treatment.