Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Lafayette, LA

10d

About The Position

Functions as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. Sets up and operates hemodialysis machines and helps maintain a safe, clean work environment. Supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, patient satisfaction, and process improvements. Provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including welcoming patients, assessing their condition and vascular access, obtaining pre- and post-treatment measurements, initiating and discontinuing treatment as prescribed, monitoring patient responses, responding to problems, documenting care, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. Performs machine safety checks, prepares laboratory specimens, and monitors patients performing self-care under RN supervision. Also supports staff training, infection-control practices, record keeping, and transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients. In the Transitional Care Unit, follows new patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care and modality transitions, helps patients understand home dialysis options, and assists with equipment and supply needs. The role involves work in a healthcare facility and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required. Work includes desk and computer tasks, frequent interaction with patients and care teams, regular heavy lifting and patient movement, frequent prolonged standing and bending, and occasional pushing or pulling of equipment. Employees may be exposed to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. An Ishihara color-vision test is required as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may 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 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 as a condition of continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.
Pass the Ishihara color-vision test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, regular heavy lifting and moving of patients, frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds, occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet, and occasional pushing or pulling with up to 15 pounds of force.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, training, and regulations.
Assist healthcare team members with patient-specific education regarding 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 weight, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Check that required safety alarms, including Narrow Venous Limits, are enabled; conduct patient observations and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patient responses and vascular access pressures during treatment; evaluate intradialytic problems, intervene as prescribed or directed, document responses, and report unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatments according to established procedures, assess patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Complete and document pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, vital signs, weights, treatment parameters, interventions, and other required treatment information accurately and promptly.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange 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 in training applicable direct patient-care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe and clean environment.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing CQI activities; enter treatment data into the designated clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on missing or corrected entries with appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare lab requisitions, and coordinate collection of lab specimens by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control procedures, and reinforce 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.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, liaise with appropriate staff to coordinate the patient experience and scheduled disciplines, and help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit; demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate; assist with modality transitions, supply ordering, and inventory.