Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Casselberry, FL

11d

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 organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean working environment, and participating in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities related to patient satisfaction and care outcomes. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed procedures, monitoring patients and machine safety, documenting treatment information, collecting laboratory specimens, and reporting patient changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also supports infection control, staff training, and, where applicable, transitional care for newly admitted dialysis patients, including education about treatment and home dialysis options. Work includes desk and personal computer tasks and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The role requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending, occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; 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 applicable state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational 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 the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; assisting with patient lifting, movement, and ambulation; and lifting and lowering solutions as described.
Able to travel between assigned facilities and various locations in the community.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing 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.
Assess vascular access patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre- and post-treatment 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 ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and document patient responses.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as needed and report unusual findings.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge and before termination of venous access.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, and other patient treatment information accurately and promptly, including treatment sheets and applicable progress notes.
Report significant information or changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant and 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 appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data in the designated clinical application accurately and promptly.
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 and print laboratory requisitions and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection control audits, support adherence to infection control practices, follow applicable policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as 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 and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary visits.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with coordination of the patient’s modality transition.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.