Patient Care Techncian - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Diamondhead, MS

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team in providing safe and effective dialysis therapy for patients under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. This role is responsible for the setup and operation of hemodialysis machines, assisting in the maintenance of a safe and clean working environment, and supporting the organization's commitment to quality improvement activities. The Patient Care Technician plays a crucial role in patient satisfaction and actively participates in process improvement initiatives to help patients achieve quality enhancement goals.

Requirements

High School diploma or G.E.D. required.
Must meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
All appropriate state licensure, education, and training (if any) required.
Demonstrated commitment to organization culture, values, and customer service standards.
Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility preferred.
Continued employment is dependent on successful completion of the organization dialysis training program and successful completion of CPR certification.
Employees are required to take the Ishihara's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment. Note that: Failing the Ishihara Test for Color Blindness does not preclude employment. The Company will consider whether reasonable accommodations can be made.
The position provides direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation. Equipment aids and/or coworkers may provide assistance.
This position requires frequent, prolonged periods of standing and the employee must be able to bend over.
The employee may occasionally be required to push and/or pull equipment, exerting up to 15 pounds of force.
The employee may be required to lift and to lower solutions on a frequent basis of up to 30 lbs., and on an occasional lift basis up to 40 lbs., as high as 5 feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist other health care members in providing patient specific detailed education regarding adequacy measures (Online Clearance Monitoring, Adequacy Monitoring Program, Urea Kinetic Modeling) and disease process/access.
Welcome assigned patients, inquire about their well-being, evaluate vascular access for patency, perform vascular access cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain necessary pre and post treatment vital signs and weight, and perform vascular access evaluation pre-treatment.
Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders, including blood flow (QB) and dialysate flow (QD).
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide intervention as prescribed or directed.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis therapy.
Obtain vital signs prior to reinfusion, perform all relevant functions necessary for the discontinuation of treatment, and document.
Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures and evaluate patient prior to termination of venous access (standing & sitting blood pressure).
Obtain Hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate the patient prior to discharge.
Perform and record Pre and Post dialysis evaluation, weight, and vital signs with initial identification.
Calculate and enter individual patients’ dialysis machine programming for Ultrafiltration (UF) goal, treatment time, and UF modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
Record accurate and timely information regarding vital signs and treatment parameters onto the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet with initial identification.
Accurately document information related to patient treatment, including completion of Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and, if applicable, progress notes.
Report any significant information and/or change in patient condition directly to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patient and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Report any change or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document any intervention for unusual patient status and document patients' response to intervention.
Evaluate patients’ vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures, provide appropriate intervention as needed, document and report any unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection.
Ensure that all blood spills are immediately cleaned with appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and efficiently utilize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of RN.
Assist in training of applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under the supervision of a nurse.
Follow all organization business policies, procedures and systems incorporated into training, including compliance with ethical business practices.
Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics - ensure all areas are safe and clean.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surface, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments according to facility policy.
Conduct all tasks necessary for preparation for dialysis treatment and document where appropriate and perform all required pre-treatment dialysis machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT).
Initiate Solution Delivery System (SDS) system.
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
Enter all treatment data into the designated clinical application in an accurate and timely manner.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient chart for admission and compile paperwork for appropriate placement in chart.
Prepare/print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat Lab specimens according to laboratory destination.
Collect, label, appropriately prepare and store lab samples according required laboratory specifications.
Ensure collection of lab specimens by appropriate lab courier.
Assist in collecting information for infection control audits.
Support staff and patient adherence to infection control practices.
Follow infection control Policies and Procedures.
Participate in and reinforce infection control education of patients and families under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Follow all newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinating their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce all education and care related matters as it relates to the new patient as allowed by state law.
Liaise with appropriate FKC staff members to provide the best patient experience, including making sure all disciplines are scheduled to see patient according to plan.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of home dialysis products, benefits of home and how home dialysis can work for them.
Set and perform a treatment on all machines used in the transitional care unit.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of treatment options including demonstration of the peritoneal dialysis set-up.
Assist with coordination of transition to patient’s modality choice.
Assist with supply ordering and inventory for TCU.