Patient Care Technician 1

Fresenius Medical Care • Princess Anne, MD

6d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician works as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, and applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.

The technician assists with patient education and care before, during, and after dialysis; monitors patients and treatment equipment; documents treatment information; and reports changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The position also supports infection control, laboratory collection and handling, staff training, and, in a Transitional Care Unit, the coordination and education of newly admitted patients during their initial weeks of dialysis and as they consider treatment options.

The role involves direct patient care, frequent standing and bending, and regularly lifting or moving patients with assistance as needed. Work includes interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The healthcare-facility environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials may occur. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment, though failing the test does not automatically preclude employment and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Meet applicable CMS-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 is dependent on successful completion.
• Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
• Ability to perform the essential physical functions, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, direct patient care involving heavy lifting and moving patients, and frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet. Assistance or material-assist devices are available for heavier items.
• Ability to take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, 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-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, evaluations, and other required treatment information.
• Initiate and discontinue dialysis according to prescribed orders and established procedures, including programming blood flow, dialysate flow, ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
• Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, identify intradialytic problems, and provide prescribed or directed interventions; document interventions and patient responses.
• Conduct machine safety checks, ensure required safety alarms are enabled, and perform pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing.
• Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as appropriate, and report unusual findings.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• 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 programs under nurse supervision.
• Maintain a safe, clean environment and follow organizational business policies, procedures, ethical practices, and infection-control requirements.
• Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
• Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and coordinate specimen collection by the appropriate courier.
• Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and participate in patient and family infection-control education as directed and permitted 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, coordinate appointments with appropriate staff disciplines, and support patient understanding of home dialysis products, benefits, and options.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, assist patients in understanding treatment options, and coordinate transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
• Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
• Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings directly to the registered nurse or supervisor.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses for bonus-eligible positions, depending on company and individual performance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED