A specialized dialysis team performs dialysis. A nephrologist leads the dialysis team. A nephrologist is a doctor who specializes in kidney diseases. Critical care medicine doctors (intensivists) also prescribe dialysis. These doctors specialize in caring for acute, life-threatening illnesses or injuries. Dialysis teams also include specialized nurses and certified hemodialysis technologists. Some patients may be trained to perform their own hemodialysis at home with the support of a trained partner and a home care dialysis team.