Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Englewood, CO

16d•Onsite

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team in providing safe and effective dialysis therapy for patients under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. Responsible for the setup and operation of hemodialysis machines and assisting in maintaining a safe and clean working environment. Supports the organization's commitment to quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities, actively participating in process improvement to help patients achieve quality enhancement goals.

Requirements

CCHT Certification Required
High School diploma or G.E.D. required.
Must meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
All appropriate state licensure, education, and training (if any) required.
Demonstrated commitment to organization culture, values, and customer service standards.
Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility preferred.
Successful completion of the organization dialysis training program.
Successful completion of CPR certification.
Employees are required to take the Ishihara's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment.
Ability to perform heavy lifting and moving of patients and assist with ambulation.
Ability to stand for prolonged periods.
Ability to bend over.
Ability to push and/or pull equipment, exerting up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to lift and lower solutions up to 30 lbs. frequently, and up to 40 lbs. occasionally, as high as 5 feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist in providing patient-specific education regarding dialysis adequacy measures and disease process.
Welcome assigned patients, inquire about their well-being, and evaluate their vascular access.
Perform vascular access cannulation and administer heparin as delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain pre and post-treatment vital signs and weight.
Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow.
Evaluate and intervene for intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed.
Monitor patients' response to dialysis therapy.
Obtain vital signs prior to reinfusion and perform discontinuation procedures.
Evaluate patient prior to discharge, including standing and sitting blood pressure and hemostasis.
Calculate and program dialysis machine settings for Ultrafiltration (UF) goal, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled.
Record accurate and timely treatment data, including vital signs and treatment parameters.
Document information related to patient treatment, including progress notes if applicable.
Report significant changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks, reporting any unusual findings.
Perform and document interventions for unusual patient status and their response.
Evaluate patients’ vascular access during treatment, document, and report findings.
Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection.
Ensure blood spills are immediately cleaned according to policy.
Prepare, organize, and utilize supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of an RN.
Assist in training of direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow all organization business policies, procedures, and systems.
Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics, ensuring all areas are safe and clean.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments.
Perform all required pre-treatment dialysis machine alarm testing.
Initiate Solution Delivery System (SDS) system.
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
Enter all treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and timely.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure nursing signatures and corrections are documented.
Prepare initial patient chart for admission and compile paperwork.
Prepare/print lab requisitions and collect, label, prepare, and store lab samples.
Ensure collection of lab specimens by appropriate lab courier.
Assist in collecting information for infection control audits.
Support staff and patient adherence to infection control practices.
Follow infection control policies and procedures.
Participate in and reinforce infection control education of patients and families.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care related matters for new patients.
Liaise with appropriate staff to provide the best patient experience.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of home dialysis products and benefits.
Set and perform treatments on all machines used in the transitional care unit.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of treatment options, including demonstration of peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordination of transition to patient’s modality choice.
Assist with supply ordering and inventory for the TCU.