Patient Care Technician

Fresenius Medical Care•Phoenix, AZ

About The Position

Functions as part of the 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. Sets up and operates hemodialysis machines and helps maintain a safe, clean working environment. Supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvement. Provides treatment-related patient care, including welcoming patients, checking their wellbeing, evaluating and cannulating vascular access, obtaining vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing dialysis as prescribed, monitoring patient response, intervening as directed, and documenting treatment information. Reports significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor. Collects and prepares laboratory specimens, supports patients performing self-care under RN supervision, and assists with training direct patient care staff under a nurse’s supervision. Prepares and tests dialysis equipment, performs machine and patient safety checks, cleans and disinfects equipment and treatment areas, follows infection control procedures, and maintains accurate records. In the Transitional Care Unit, supports new patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, helps patients understand treatment and home dialysis options, and assists with treatment setup, modality transitions, and supply inventory. The role involves desk and computer work, interaction with patients and health care staff, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and potentially travel to regional, business unit, and corporate meetings. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials may occur. Direct patient care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. Frequent, prolonged standing and bending are required. The role may occasionally require pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet. Equipment, coworkers, and material-assist devices may provide help with heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; failing it does not automatically preclude employment, as reasonable accommodations may 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 any 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 as a condition of continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, lifting and lowering solutions, and assisting with patient movement and ambulation.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing 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, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and monitor patient response to dialysis.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; perform and document functions necessary to discontinue treatment; evaluate patients before termination of venous access, including standing and sitting blood pressure.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
Record accurate and timely vital signs and treatment parameters, complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes, and ensure treatment documentation is accurate.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy; document interventions for unusual patient status and patient responses.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange appropriate courier collection of specimens.
Clean blood spills immediately with the appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
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 organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as appropriate, perform required pre-treatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and compile paperwork for placement in the chart.
Prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination.
Assist with infection control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control policies, and reinforce patient and family infection control education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit 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, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Help patients understand treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with coordinating transition to their chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.