Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Florissant, MO

4d•Onsite

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 organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, supports a safe and clean environment, and participates in quality improvement and patient-satisfaction activities. The technician welcomes and monitors patients before, during, and after dialysis; obtains and records vital signs and weights; assesses vascular access; initiates, monitors, and discontinues treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures; documents treatment information; and reports changes or concerns to a registered nurse or supervisor. Duties also include machine safety checks, laboratory specimen handling, infection-control practices, equipment preparation and disinfection, and maintaining accurate patient records. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports patient understanding of home dialysis options, and assists with equipment and supply management. The position involves travel between assigned facilities and community locations and provides direct patient care in a health care facility environment.

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 the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete 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 may be considered.
Able to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation.
Able to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and under applicable supervision.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required vascular-access and patient evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Check that required safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Identify and respond to intradialytic problems and unusual patient status; document interventions and patient responses and report significant changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access and treatment pressures, document findings, and report unusual results.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently 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.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis treatment and perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT); initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and on time.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on missing or omitted entries with appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, and reinforce patient and family education under direction and as allowed by law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordination of the patient’s transition to their chosen modality and support TCU supply ordering and inventory.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.