Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Concord, CA

8d•$25 - $32•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean care environment, and following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The technician supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities, including efforts related to patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including patient assessment, vascular access care, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring, documentation, and reporting changes in condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also includes preparing and handling laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and treatment areas, and supporting infection-control practices. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, and helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options. The role requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may involve travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings. The work environment is a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials may occur. The work involves frequent standing and bending, and direct patient care that regularly includes heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation.

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.
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 take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and assisting 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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Provide patient-specific education regarding adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and within applicable scope of practice.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including required patient identification and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, and program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, perform interventions as prescribed or directed, and document patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; evaluate patients before termination and discharge; obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, and document, intervene, and report unusual findings as appropriate.
Report significant information and changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of laboratory specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with 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.
Maintain safe and clean areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document required activities, perform pretreatment machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding Tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and timely in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omissions are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for placement in charts; prepare and print laboratory requisitions; ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, 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, liaise with appropriate staff to coordinate planned services, and help patients understand home dialysis products and options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit; assist with patient understanding of treatment options, including demonstration of peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordination of transitions to patients’ chosen modalities and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.