Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Glendale Heights, IL

16d•$18 - $27

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and outcomes. The technician welcomes and monitors patients before, during, and after dialysis; assesses vascular access; performs cannulation and delegated tasks as permitted; initiates and discontinues treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; monitors patient responses; and documents treatment information. The position also includes preparing and collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining dialysis equipment and supplies, supporting infection-control practices, and assisting with staff and patient education. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with the appropriate staff, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with transition to the patient’s chosen modality and with unit inventory. The role involves direct patient care in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, frequent prolonged standing and bending, and lifting and moving patients or supplies. Employees must take an Ishihara color blindness test 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 CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable 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 for continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, 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 ordered or directed, and monitor patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document the procedures needed to discontinue treatment.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, evaluate patients before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and document pre- and post-dialysis assessments.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Document vital signs, treatment parameters, patient treatment information, and interventions accurately and promptly; report significant information or changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as needed, document findings, and report unusual results.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare specimens, and support their collection by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
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 business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, nursing signatures, and appropriate completion or correction of omissions.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare laboratory requisitions, collect and label specimens, prepare and store them according to laboratory specifications, and ensure courier collection.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow applicable policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary care.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality, and help coordinate supply ordering and inventory.