Patient Care Technician 1

Fresenius Medical Care • Princess Anne, MD

7d • $14 - $23

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 and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines and helping maintain a safe, clean work environment. It supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, patient satisfaction, and process improvements intended to help patients achieve quality goals.

The technician welcomes and monitors patients, evaluates vascular access, obtains and records pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, and documents treatment parameters and patient responses. Duties include calculating and entering machine programming, enabling safety alarms, addressing treatment issues as directed, collecting laboratory specimens, cleaning and disinfecting equipment and treatment areas, and reporting significant patient changes to a registered nurse or supervisor.

The position also supports staff training, recordkeeping, infection-control practices, and CQI activities. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with transition planning and supplies.

The work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required. The health care facility environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care includes heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent prolonged standing and bending, occasional pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, and frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices or coworkers are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
• Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements, if any.
• Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
• Successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
• Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
• Ability to perform the described essential functions, including direct patient care, frequent prolonged standing and bending, patient movement and ambulation assistance, and the specified lifting and pushing or pulling tasks, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.
• Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
• Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
• Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
• Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
• Evaluate intradialytic problems and intervene as prescribed by physician order or directed by clinical staff.
• Monitor patient response to dialysis therapy and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; perform and document functions needed to discontinue treatment, including standing and sitting blood pressure checks and evaluation before venous access termination.
• Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate the patient before discharge.
• Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
• Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
• Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses in the required treatment documentation.
• Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures; intervene as needed and document and report unusual findings.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens in accordance with laboratory specifications.
• Clean blood spills immediately with appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
• Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage.
• Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
• Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
• Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices incorporated into training.
• Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as appropriate, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
• Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
• Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by the appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient charts and organize admission paperwork; prepare or print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens and ensure collection by the appropriate courier.
• Assist with collecting information for infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families under 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.
• Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduling of disciplines according to the plan.
• Help patients understand home-dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with coordinating transition to the patient's modality choice.
• Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential for 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