Acute Inpatient Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

Functions as part of the hemodialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy to assigned patients in accordance with company policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. Provides patient care in an acute setting under the supervision of an FKC RN. The role includes preparing and operating renal replacement therapy equipment as authorized by documented competency, monitoring patients and vascular access, carrying out prescribed treatments, documenting care, and reporting unusual findings to the RN. The position also supports a safe and clean working environment and participates in quality and process-improvement activities. Work takes place in a health care facility and involves direct patient care, interaction with facility staff and physicians, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The employee may be exposed to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Physical work includes prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and occasional movement of equipment and lifting of supplies.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Valid PCT national certification or state-specific certification as defined by the Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS).
Any applicable state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
1–2 years of related experience.
Ability to perform frequent, prolonged standing and bending.
Ability to provide direct patient care involving heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation, with equipment, coworkers, or assist devices as needed.
Ability to occasionally assist with moving machines and equipment weighing up to 200 pounds and lift chemical and water solutions weighing up to 30 pounds to a height of up to 5 feet.

Responsibilities

Provide patient care to assigned patients in the acute setting under the supervision of an FKC RN.
Promote and assist in maintaining a safe and clean working environment.
Support Quality Enhancement Program and Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement activities, including patient-satisfaction and process-improvement efforts.
Promote and assist in meeting Total Area Productivity goals.
When competency and proficiency are documented, set up and prime equipment for renal replacement therapies as directed by the Fresenius nurse.
Welcome patients and ask about their well-being since their last treatment; report complaints or observations to the FMCNA RN.
Assess vascular access for patency and report unusual findings to the FMCNA RN.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, reporting unusual findings to the FMCNA RN.
Perform vascular access cannulation and report difficulties or unusual findings to the FMCNA RN.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, sodium modeling, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including narrow venous limits.
Record accurate and timely vital signs and treatment parameters on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet with initial identification.
Initiate renal replacement treatment according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow rates, or peritoneal dialysis as prescribed by the attending nephrologist.
Collect and label specimens and ensure timely delivery to the laboratory according to facility policy.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed by the FMCNA RN; monitor and report the patient’s response to dialysis.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform the functions needed to discontinue treatment, including documentation.
Report changes or unusual findings to the FMCNA RN; document interventions for unusual patient status and the patient’s response.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as appropriate, document, and report unusual findings to the FMCNA RN.
Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures.
Evaluate patients before termination of venous access, including standing and sitting blood pressures; achieve hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and report unusual findings to the FMCNA RN.
Perform and record pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, weights, and vital signs with initial identification.
Perform other duties as required.