Patient Care Technician - PCT - Dialysis Preceptor

Fresenius Medical Care•Framingham, MA

23h•Hybrid

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 the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and CQI Activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvement. This role involves direct patient care, including monitoring patients, operating dialysis machines, and assisting with patient education. Additionally, the PCT Preceptor plays a key role in training and orienting new clinical staff, ensuring adherence to quality standards and regulatory requirements. The position also includes record-keeping, infection control monitoring, and potentially assisting with transitional care unit patients.

Requirements

High School diploma or its equivalent required.
Must have a valid PCT national certification or state specific certification as defined by Center for Medicaid/Medicare (CMS).
All appropriate state licensure, education, and training (if any) required.
Demonstrated commitment to organization culture, values, and customer service standards.
Attendance and active participation in all applicable preceptor training programs as established by education leadership.
Attends Fresenius and publicly offered skill-based training as assigned by Clinical Manager.
At least five years patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility preferred.
Continued employment is dependent on successful completion of the organization dialysis training program and successful completion of CPR certification.
Employees are required to take the Ishihara's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment.
Day-to-day work includes desk and personal computer work and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians.
The position requires travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community.
Travel to regional, Business Unit and Corporate meetings may be required.
The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels.
May be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases/materials.
This position provides direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation.
This position requires frequent, prolonged periods of standing and the employee must be able to bend over.
The employee may occasionally be required to push and/or pull equipment, exerting up to 15 pounds of force.
The employee may be required to lift and to lower solutions on a frequent basis of up to 30 lbs., and on an occasional lift basis up to 40 lbs., as high as 5 feet.

Nice To Haves

At least five years patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist in providing patient-specific education regarding dialysis adequacy measures and disease process/access.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated.
Obtain pre and post-treatment vital signs and weight.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders.
Monitor patients' response to dialysis therapy and intervene as needed.
Calculate and program dialysis machine settings for Ultrafiltration (UF) goal, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled on dialysis machines.
Record accurate and timely treatment data on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and progress notes.
Report significant changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Conduct machine safety checks and report any unusual findings.
Perform and document interventions for unusual patient status and their response.
Evaluate patients’ vascular access during treatment and report any unusual findings.
Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection.
Clean up blood spills immediately with appropriate disinfectants.
Prepare, organize, and utilize supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care and assist as applicable.
Participate in the recruitment process for new clinical staff.
Assist with clinical orientation and on-going training of direct patient care personnel and all facility staff.
Function as a preceptor in direct patient care training.
Deliver and maintain on-going competency evaluations/audits for other PCTs.
Collaborate with the Clinical Manager and Education Coordinator to drive quality standards through education on ESRD regulatory and legal requirements and CQI.
Assist in training of applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under the supervision of a nurse.
Provide developmental support to applicable clinical and facility staff.
Educate appropriate personnel regarding the integrity and safety of facility water systems.
Educate appropriate personnel regarding the maintenance of environmental integrity, including patient and staff safety.
Ensure strong communication between Clinical Managers, Education Coordinators, direct patient care staff, and support staff regarding training and development programs.
Participate in implementing and potentially designing educational programs for PCT staff.
Collaborate with Clinical Managers and Education Coordinators in scheduling and implementing training programs.
Monitor processes in patient care delivery through regular CQI activities.
Ensure all organization business policies, procedures, and systems are incorporated into training.
Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics, ensuring all areas are safe and clean.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Perform all required pre-treatment dialysis machine alarm testing.
Initiate Solution Delivery System (SDS) system.
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities.
Enter all treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and timely.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure nursing signatures are documented.
Prepare initial patient charts 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 with facility QAI infection control audits.
Act as a change agent for infection control practices within the clinic.
Monitor staff and patient adherence to infection control practices.
Reinforce new hire employee adherence to infection control Policies and Procedures.
Support staff and patient engagement on infection control practices.
Reinforce patient and staff adherence to infection control Policies and Procedures through visual media.
Participate in education response to internal and external facility surveys.
Participate in and reinforce infection control education of patients and families.
Follow all newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce all education and care related matters for new patients.
Liaise with appropriate FKC staff members to provide the best patient experience.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of home dialysis products and benefits.
Set up 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 TCU.