Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Morehead City, NC

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician functions as part of a 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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting Quality Enhancement Program and Continuous Quality Improvement activities that promote patient satisfaction and quality goals. The technician assists with patient education and care before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include assessing vascular access, cannulation and delegated heparin administration where permitted, taking and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments, monitoring patient responses, responding to problems as directed, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes machine safety checks, treatment documentation, specimen collection and preparation, and cleaning and disinfecting equipment and treatment areas. In a Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patients’ understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with transition planning, equipment, supplies, and inventory. The position involves direct patient care and travel between assigned facilities and other community locations. The work environment may involve exposure to infectious or contagious materials and requires frequent standing and lifting or moving patients and supplies.

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 direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assistance with ambulation; lift or lower solutions frequently up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; and occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required patient identification and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Monitor patients and their responses to dialysis; evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Perform treatment reinfusion and discontinuation procedures, obtain required vital signs, evaluate patients before discharge, and achieve hemostasis and apply dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other treatment information accurately and promptly; complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, document findings, and report unusual results.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
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 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 machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, complete required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, initiate the Solution Delivery System, and document as appropriate.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, prepare or print laboratory requisitions, and coordinate collection of laboratory specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under direction as allowed by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary care.
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.