Outpatient care technician

Fresenius Medical Care • Fairhaven, MA

13d • $16 - $25

About The Position

Functions as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. Sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.

Provides patient-specific education as appropriate; welcomes and assesses patients; evaluates and cannulates vascular access; obtains and records vital signs and weights; initiates and discontinues treatments; monitors patients and machine safety; responds to treatment problems as directed; and documents care and reports changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. Duties also include specimen collection and preparation, infection-control practices, equipment cleaning, and supporting training of applicable direct patient care staff under nursing supervision.

In the Transitional Care Unit, follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, helps coordinate transitions to a chosen modality, and assists with supplies and inventory.

The role involves direct patient care in a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. Work includes desk and computer tasks and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Employees may be exposed to infectious or contagious materials. Physical activities include frequent, prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and moving, and lifting solutions and equipment. The position requires successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification for continued employment.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Must meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
• Must hold any applicable state licensure and complete required education and training.
• Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization dialysis training program and CPR certification.
• Demonstrated commitment to organization culture, values, and customer service standards.
• Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
• Ability to perform the physical demands of direct patient care, including prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and lifting solutions and equipment.
• Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

• Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist health care team members with patient-specific education on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
• Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
• Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and record pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required access evaluations and patient identification.
• Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
• Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Monitor patient responses to dialysis, evaluate and intervene in intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Discontinue treatment according to established procedures; obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, evaluate patients before discharge, and document relevant treatment and post-treatment assessments.
• Document treatment parameters, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets, progress notes when applicable, and clinical applications.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage; maintain a safe and clean environment.
• Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
• Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
• Participate in CQI activities, review treatment sheets for completeness, address omissions or corrections with appropriate staff, and prepare initial patient charts and laboratory requisitions.
• Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and participate in patient and family infection-control education under appropriate direction and as allowed by state law.
• In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
• Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
• Reinforce education for new patients, support understanding of home-dialysis products and treatment options, and assist with demonstrations such as peritoneal dialysis setup.
• Assist with coordinating transition to the patient’s chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
• Initiate the Solution Delivery System and perform required pretreatment dialysis machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT).

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses, depending on company and individual performance, for bonus-eligible positions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED