Patient Care Technician - PCT Per Diem

Fresenius Medical Care•Montevallo, AL

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician functions as part of the 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 is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines and helping maintain a safe, clean work environment. The technician supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including initiatives related to patient satisfaction and process improvement. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments. Duties include welcoming and assessing patients, evaluating and cannulating vascular access, obtaining and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to orders and established procedures, monitoring patients and machines, responding to treatment issues as directed, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also performs treatment documentation, specimen collection and preparation, machine and area cleaning, supply management, and infection-control activities. The role may support transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of treatment. This includes reinforcing patient education, coordinating care with facility staff, helping patients understand treatment options and home dialysis, assisting with modality transitions, and supporting TCU supplies and inventory. The work includes desk and computer tasks, direct patient interaction, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and physical work involving standing, bending, lifting, and moving patients or equipment. The work environment is a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials.

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 dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Pass 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 work involving frequent, prolonged standing and bending, direct patient care, and regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assistance with ambulation.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using 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.
Ability to work in a health care facility environment with moderate noise and possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor patient responses to dialysis therapy.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, perform tasks required to discontinue treatment, document treatment, and evaluate patients before and after termination of venous access.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Record accurate and timely vital signs and treatment parameters, complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes, and report significant information or changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document interventions for unusual patient status and document patient responses.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as needed and report and document unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant 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.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe and clean environment.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document tasks as appropriate, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in CQI activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in 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, prepare or print laboratory requisitions, and ensure laboratory specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted 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 as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduling of disciplines.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them; support understanding of treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the transitional care unit, assist with coordination of transitions to patients’ chosen modalities, and assist with TCU supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.