Patient Care Technican- PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Dadeville, AL

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician works 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 sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and supports quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated tasks where permitted, obtains and records vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders, monitors patient response, and reports changes or unusual findings to a nurse or supervisor. The role also documents treatment information, performs machine safety checks, collects and prepares laboratory specimens, maintains infection-control practices, and supports patient education and care transitions, including transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients. The position involves direct patient care in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. Employees must complete the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification for continued employment. A high school diploma or GED is required, as is meeting applicable CMS-approved certification requirements within the required timeline.

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 organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification to continue employment.
Pass the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Able to perform the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting supplies and solutions.
Able to travel between assigned facilities and locations within the community.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and permitted.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for 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 according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Enable required safety alarms, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, assess intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Perform treatment reinfusion and discontinuation procedures, assess patients before discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Accurately complete treatment sheets, progress notes when applicable, and other patient treatment documentation; report significant changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using the appropriate disinfectant and follow facility infection-control policies.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under a nurse’s supervision.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and treatment areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, check for nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for admission, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce adherence to infection-control practices, and support patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Coordinate with appropriate staff so patients receive services from the relevant disciplines according to their care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities, and help coordinate TCU supplies and inventory.