Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Los Lunas, NM

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities focused on patient satisfaction and quality goals. The position provides patient education support, prepares patients for treatment, monitors and documents patient condition and treatment, operates dialysis equipment, and reports significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also includes laboratory specimen handling, record keeping, infection-control activities, staff training support, and—in the Transitional Care Unit—coordination and education for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis. The work includes desk and computer tasks and direct interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meeting travel may also be required. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The role requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending, and may involve pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force. Frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet may be required. Assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet 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 the physical demands described, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, patient assistance and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education on adequacy measures, disease process, and vascular access, as appropriate.
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-, intradialytic, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required patient identification and evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, identify intradialytic problems, intervene as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, evaluate patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet, clinical application, and progress notes when applicable.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, and document, intervene, and report unusual findings as appropriate.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and follow facility infection-control policies and procedures.
Prepare, organize, and efficiently use supplies and equipment 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 organization business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect the dialysis machine, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document ongoing CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure required nursing signatures and corrections are obtained from appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, and support patient and family infection-control education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed 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 as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care according to plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how home dialysis may work for them.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Help patients understand treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.