NKF Awareness

[br7132]

Brenda Rickards CCHT-A

[Hidden]

Are you announcing you passed the exam and have your certification?

[br7132 in reply to Hidden]

Yes

[Hidden in reply to br7132]

Congratulations! You should be very pleased and proud of your accomplishment!

[br7132]

Thank you. I obtained certification in

Nov 2013.

[Hidden]

Have the last almost four years been enlightening? I'd like to hear what you care to share since I'm doing lots of investigating into various types of dialysis for my needs should it become necessary.

[br7132]

I have also had the opportunity to work as a dialysis technician on various dialysis at sea cruises. I have traveled to southern, eastern and western Carribbean, Alaska, Spain, and Portugal. I have enjoyed the great opportunity to serve a diverse population of patients.

[Sickl in reply to br7132]

What cruise lines do dialysis and is it covered by medicare?

[br7132 in reply to Sickl]

Celebrity and Royal Carribbean not covered by Medicare

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

Gosh those cruises are so very expensive. They charge an arm and a leg just for the cruise then you have to pay out of pocket on top of that for each dialysis treatment and they charge 2-3X more than what you'd pay in-center. I've always wanted to go on a cruise but will wait until I have a transplant or get trained on the portable cycler. I've been doing home hemo for 15 years now dialysis for almost 16 years. Blessings

[br7132 in reply to KidneyCoach]

There is an organization called Debbie's Dialysis Fund that holds an annual rally to sponsor up to 12 dialysis patients and their caregiver for a dialysis cruise vacation. This organization pays for free dialysis treatments, balcony cabin, travel expenses to include hotel and spending money. I have served on 3 of these cruises and have enjoyed them all!

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador in reply to br7132]

Oh I'd never heard of it. Do you have more information you could pass along? Aside from this organization they still remain quite expensive. If one does PD or has a portable hemo cycler you could go on a similar cruise for less than 1/4 the cost of Dialysis at Sea cruises. Its always been a dream of mine, although at this point I'd prefer going to some island and have fun at the beach. Blessings

[br7132 in reply to KidneyCoach]

This organization employs dialysis at sea cruise lines for dialysis

[mhawk123]

What does CCHT-A stands for?

[br7132]

Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician-Advanced