Patient Care Technician Preceptor - PCT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Shreveport, LA

3d•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 the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and CQI Activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvement. This role involves patient education, performing and monitoring dialysis treatments, managing patient care, and participating in staff recruitment and training. The technician will also be involved in maintaining facility cleanliness, accurate record-keeping, infection control, and assisting with transitional care for new dialysis patients. The position requires adherence to all organizational policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

CCHT Certification Required.
High School diploma or G.E.D. 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.
The position requires travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community.
Travel to regional, Business Unit and Corporate meetings may be required.
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

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist in providing patient-specific education regarding dialysis adequacy measures and disease process.
Welcome assigned patients, inquire about their well-being, and evaluate 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.
Evaluate and intervene for intradialytic problems as prescribed.
Monitor patients' response to dialysis therapy.
Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures and evaluate patient prior to discharge.
Calculate and enter individual patients’ dialysis machine programming for Ultrafiltration (UF) goal, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled.
Record accurate and timely information regarding vital signs and treatment parameters.
Document information related to patient treatment, including progress notes.
Report significant information and/or change in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patient and conduct machine safety checks.
Perform and document interventions for unusual patient status and document patients' response.
Evaluate patients’ vascular access during treatment and provide appropriate intervention.
Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection.
Ensure that all blood spills are immediately cleaned.
Prepare, organize, and efficiently utilize supplies and equipment.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of RN.
Assist patients in performing self-care as applicable.
Participate in the recruitment process for new clinical staff.
Assist with clinical orientation and on-going training of direct patient care personnel.
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 in driving organization quality standards.
Assist in training of applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs.
Provide developmental support to applicable clinical and facility staff.
Partner with RN and IDT staff to educate personnel regarding facility water systems and environmental integrity.
Ensure strong communication between Clinical Managers, Education Coordinators, direct patient care staff, and support staff.
Participate in implementing and potentially designing creative educational programs for PCT staff.
Collaborate with Clinical Managers and Education Coordinators in scheduling and implementing training programs.
Monitor processes in the delivery of patient care through regular Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
Ensure all organization business policies, procedures and systems are incorporated into training.
Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics - ensure all areas are safe and clean.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surface, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments.
Conduct all tasks necessary for preparation for dialysis treatment and document.
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.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure nursing signatures are documented.
Prepare initial patient chart for admission and compile paperwork.
Prepare/print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat Lab specimens.
Collect, label, appropriately 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 clinic.
Monitor staff and patient adherence to infection control practices.
Reinforce new hire employee adherence to infection control Policies and Procedures.
Support ongoing 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.
Follows all newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinating their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforces all education and care related matters as it relates to the new patient.
Liaisons with appropriate FKC staff members to provide the best patient experience.
Assists in assuring patient understanding or home dialysis products, benefits of home and how home dialysis can work for them.
Sets and performs a treatment on all machines used in the transitional care unit.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of treatment options including demonstration of the peritoneal dialysis set-up.
Assists with coordination of transition to patient’s modality choice.
Assists with supply ordering and inventory for TCU.