Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Claremont, NH

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) is part of the dialysis health care team and provides safe, effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting patients during treatment, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and complying with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT also supports the Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position supports dialysis at the Springfield Center in Springfield, Vermont, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and at Fresenius clinics in Claremont and/or Lebanon on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The role includes direct patient care, documentation, machine and treatment preparation, infection-control activities, and participation in transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients. The work includes desk and personal computer tasks, interaction with patients and health care staff, and travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community. The health care environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent prolonged standing, and bending. Employees may occasionally push or pull equipment, and frequently lift or lower solutions. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required 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 depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends 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.
Ability to perform the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; regularly lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation; occasionally pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.
Ability to work in a health care environment with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials.

Nice To Haves

Dialysis experience is highly preferred.
Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility is preferred.
High-level patient care experience, preferably in a hospital setting.

Responsibilities

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 weights and vital signs, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
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 ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patients and their response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and intervene as prescribed or directed.
Perform reinfusion and treatment discontinuation procedures, obtain required vital signs, achieve hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Enable required machine safety alarms, conduct patient observations and machine safety checks, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and label specimens, arrange storage and collection, and prepare laboratory requisitions.
Clean blood spills promptly using the appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and treatment areas between patients.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment, conduct required pretreatment machine alarm testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly treatment areas and follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure required signatures and corrections are obtained.
Prepare initial patient charts and organize paperwork for appropriate placement.
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 allowed 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, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines see patients according to plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and modality choices, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the transitional care unit and assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Assist with supply ordering and inventory for the transitional care unit.
Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.