Patient Care Technician 1

Fresenius Medical Care•Cadiz, KY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 1 works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including patient assessment, vascular access evaluation and cannulation, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring, documentation, and escalation of changes in patient condition. It also includes preparing equipment and supplies, performing machine safety checks, collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining infection-control practices, and supporting staff training as directed. In a Transitional Care Unit, the technician 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, and helps coordinate transitions to the patient’s chosen modality. The work involves interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians; travel between assigned facilities and community locations; and possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The setting is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The role also requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending, and may involve pushing or pulling equipment and lifting solutions and other items. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to continue employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification to continue employment.
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 functions described, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions and other items, with assistance or devices available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Provide patient-specific education with other health care team members regarding adequacy measures and, where appropriate, disease process and vascular access.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight, perform vascular access evaluations, and complete patient identification and evaluation steps.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Perform treatment reinfusion and discontinuation procedures, obtain required vital signs, evaluate patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Accurately and promptly document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other treatment information in the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and clinical application; complete progress notes when applicable.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe, clean environment and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing entries or signatures are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare and print requisitions for prescribed or stat laboratory specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, follow infection-control policies and procedures, support staff and patient adherence, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow new patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law; liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience and coordinate discipline visits according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transition to the patient’s modality choice, and help with TCU supply ordering and inventory.