Patient Care Technician 1

Fresenius Medical Care•Knoxville, TN

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 is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities, including initiatives related to patient satisfaction and process improvement. The technician welcomes and monitors patients throughout dialysis treatment; obtains and documents assessments, vital signs, and weights; evaluates and cannulates vascular access; initiates, monitors, and discontinues treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; and responds to treatment issues as directed. The role also includes operating and safety-checking dialysis equipment, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining accurate clinical records, supporting infection-control practices, and assisting with patient education and staff training under nursing supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, supports modality transitions, and assists with equipment and supply inventory. The position involves work in a health care facility and requires travel between assigned facilities and other community locations. Employees may be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care regularly involves lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and occasional pushing or pulling equipment. The role may require lifting solutions weighing up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally, including lifting as high as five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (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 and 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 will be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, patient assessments, and treatment parameters.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter individual dialysis machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, document patient responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange pickup of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain safe and clean work areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Perform treatment preparation tasks, including required pretreatment machine alarm testing and initiation of 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, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and support patient and family education under the direction of the clinical manager or designee as permitted 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; coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordinating transitions to patients’ chosen modalities and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.