Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Atlanta, GA

20h•Onsite

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines and maintaining a safe, clean work environment. It supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvement. The technician welcomes and monitors patients throughout dialysis treatment, evaluates vascular access, obtains and documents vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues treatment according to prescribed orders and procedures, responds to treatment issues as directed, and reports significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also handles treatment documentation, laboratory specimens, machine safety checks, cleaning and disinfection, and preparation of supplies and equipment. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, helps patients understand treatment options and home dialysis, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with transition planning and supply inventory. The position involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and work in a health care facility where exposure to infectious materials may occur.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must 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 perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing and bending; heavy lifting and moving of patients; assisting with ambulation; 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-assist devices are available for heavier items.
Must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.
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 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 ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor patient response to therapy.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document the functions needed to discontinue treatment.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access, obtain standing and sitting blood pressure, achieve hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and perform and record pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, weights, and vital signs with initial identification.
Calculate and enter prescribed individual dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Record accurate, timely treatment parameters and vital signs on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet, complete treatment documentation and applicable progress notes, and report significant information or changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients, document interventions for unusual patient status and their responses, and monitor vascular access pressures during treatment; report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier pickup of 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 registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, training 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 as required, perform pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for placement in the chart; prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens and ensure their collection by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control policies and procedures, and reinforce infection control education for patients and families 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 matters for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and how home dialysis may work for them; assist with treatment options education, including demonstration of peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with coordination of transition to the patient’s chosen modality, and assist with supply ordering and inventory for the unit.