Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•New Orleans, LA

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and achievement of organizational Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including preparing and operating equipment, monitoring patients and vascular access, recording treatment information, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also includes laboratory specimen handling, infection-control practices, staff training support, and—where applicable—coordinating care and education for newly admitted patients in a Transitional Care Unit. The work includes desk and computer tasks and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The role requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending, occasional pushing or pulling of 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 as high as five feet. Assistance from coworkers or equipment is available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing it does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all 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; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment. Failing the test does not preclude employment; reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the described physical demands, including patient handling, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving supplies and solutions, with assistance or devices available for heavier items.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and community locations.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and under applicable supervision or state-law limits.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intradialytic, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including the required patient identification and pre-treatment vascular access evaluation.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, document patient responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, obtain required vital signs, evaluate the patient and venous access, achieve hemostasis, apply dressings, and assess the patient before discharge.
Complete accurate and timely treatment documentation, including the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and, where applicable, progress notes; review sheets for completeness and appropriate signatures.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS) and perform tasks needed to prepare for dialysis treatment.
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and participate in patient and family infection-control education under the direction of the Center Manager or designee, as allowed by state law.
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, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.