Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Westwood, KS

14d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and participating in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities related to patient satisfaction and care outcomes. The technician supports patients throughout dialysis treatments, including preparing and operating equipment, monitoring patients and vascular access, recording treatment information, responding to changes in patient condition, and communicating concerns to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also handles laboratory specimens and records, follows infection-control practices, and helps educate patients and families as allowed by state law. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with modality transitions, equipment setup, and supply inventory. The position involves work at assigned facilities and in the community, with possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work environment is that of a health care facility, with potential exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Physical demands include frequent and prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, assisting with ambulation, and lifting solutions and equipment.

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; 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, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient-care duties that regularly involve heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet, with assistance or material-assist devices available for heavier items.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education with other health care team members on adequacy measures and topics such as disease processes and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their prior treatment.
Evaluate 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, and perform required vascular-access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling, as prescribed.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patient responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide or document interventions as directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular-access pressures during treatment, intervene as appropriate, and document and report unusual findings.
Complete accurate and timely treatment documentation, including treatment sheets, progress notes when applicable, vital signs, and treatment parameters.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and follow facility policy.
Prepare and efficiently use supplies and equipment to prevent waste; monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational 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 according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm tests, including Pressure Holding Tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure required signatures and corrections are completed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare lab requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control 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 dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as allowed by state law and liaise with facility staff to coordinate services according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and how home dialysis may work for them.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit; demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup and help patients understand treatment options.
Assist with coordinating transitions to patients’ chosen modalities and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.