Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Beaumont, TX

13d

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. Responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines and helping maintain a safe, clean work environment. Supports Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. Provides patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing vascular access, cannulation, obtaining vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments, monitoring patients and equipment, responding to problems as directed, documenting care, and reporting changes in condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. Also supports patient education, specimen collection, infection-control practices, staff training, and the preparation and upkeep of treatment areas and records. In the Transitional Care Unit, follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate transitional care, education, treatment-option discussions, modality transitions, and supplies. The role involves direct patient care and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians; travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required, and travel to regional, Business Unit, or corporate meetings may be required. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise. Employees may be exposed to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. The work includes desk and computer tasks, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and regularly lifting or moving patients and assisting with ambulation. Employees may occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. An Ishihara color blindness test is required 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 applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s 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 physical duties, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.
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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist with patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required standing and sitting blood pressures.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescriptions and established procedures; calculate and enter machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform vascular-access monitoring during treatment, including arterial and venous pressure monitoring; intervene as needed, document, and report unusual findings.
Perform and document patient evaluations, treatment parameters, interventions, and patient responses; complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes accurately and promptly.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, observe patients, and perform machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment to prevent waste; clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and treatment areas between treatments.
Immediately clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
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 policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain safe and clean facility areas.
Complete and document participation in CQI activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, nursing signatures, and correction or completion of omitted entries by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and coordinate laboratory specimen pickup.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and participate in patient and family infection-control education as permitted by state law and directed by the Center Manager or designee.
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 information for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit; assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.