Acute Inpatient Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Florence, SC

About The Position

Functions as part of the hemodialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy for assigned patients in accordance with company policies, procedures, training, and applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. Provides patient care in an acute setting under the supervision of an FKC RN. Supports a safe and clean work environment, quality-improvement initiatives, patient satisfaction, and productivity goals. With documented competency and proficiency, may set up and prime equipment for renal replacement therapies as directed by a Fresenius Nurse. The role includes preparing for and administering prescribed treatments, monitoring patients and vascular access, recording treatment information, responding to problems, and discontinuing treatment according to established procedures. The position involves direct patient care in healthcare facilities and travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Valid PCT national certification or state-specific certification as defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Any required state licensure, education, and training.
1–2 years of related experience.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing and bending.
Ability to assist with lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation; equipment or coworkers may provide assistance.
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 the FKC RN.
Promote and help maintain a safe, clean working environment; participate in quality enhancement, quality assessment, performance improvement, patient satisfaction, and process-improvement activities.
Support Total Area Productivity goals.
When competent and proficient, set up and prime equipment for hemodialysis, continuous renal replacement, and peritoneal dialysis therapies as directed by the Fresenius Nurse.
Welcome patients, ask about their well-being since their last treatment, and 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, and report unusual findings to the FMCNA RN.
Perform vascular access cannulation and report cannulation difficulties or unusual findings to the FMCNA RN.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, sodium modeling, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including narrow venous limits (NVL 160).
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, provide interventions as prescribed or directed by the FMCNA RN, monitor patient response to therapy, and report unusual findings.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document functions needed to discontinue treatment.
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, obtain standing and sitting blood pressures, achieve hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge; 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.