Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Katy, TX

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe, effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with a safe and clean environment, and supporting the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including checking patient status and vascular access, preparing and operating equipment, monitoring treatment and patient response, documenting care, and reporting changes or concerns to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also helps with patient education, laboratory specimen handling, infection-control practices, staff training, and related recordkeeping. 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, helps patients understand treatment options and home dialysis, and assists with the transition to the patient’s chosen modality. The role requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations and may include travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work takes place in a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious materials, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
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 direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and assistance with ambulation.
Ability to push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force occasionally; frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices and a two-person assist program are available for heavier items.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access during treatment.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including required pre-treatment access evaluation and pre-reinfusion vital signs.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, and evaluate the patient before treatment termination and discharge.
Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, observe patients, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, document patient responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings after treatment.
Document treatment information, vital signs, parameters, evaluations, interventions, and relevant progress notes accurately and promptly, including completion of the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills immediately with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of a registered nurse.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under the supervision of a nurse.
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 (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and promptly.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by the appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for admission and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow applicable policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family infection-control education as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise with facility staff to coordinate services according to the patient’s plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, explain treatment options, and assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Comply with organizational business policies, procedures, systems, ethical practices, culture, values, and customer service standards.