Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Camp Hill, PA

8d•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 organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. Sets up and operates hemodialysis machines and helps maintain a safe, clean work environment. Supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvements intended to help patients achieve quality goals. Provides patient education and care throughout dialysis treatments, including greeting and assessing patients, evaluating and cannulating vascular access, obtaining and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to orders and procedures, monitoring patient response, and responding to or reporting changes in condition. Programs dialysis machines as prescribed, checks safety alarms and equipment, obtains laboratory specimens, documents treatment information, and maintains appropriate supplies and equipment. Contributes to staff training under nurse supervision, follows business and infection-control policies, and cleans and disinfects treatment equipment and areas between patients. Completes treatment records and CQI documentation, prepares patient charts and laboratory paperwork, and coordinates specimen handling and collection. In the Transitional Care Unit, follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinates transitional care. Reinforces education, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, coordinates care with facility staff, assists with modality transitions, and supports TCU supply ordering and inventory. The role involves direct patient care in a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. Work may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Physical activities include frequent standing, bending, lifting and lowering solutions, moving and assisting patients, and occasionally pushing or pulling equipment. The position requires successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification for continued employment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable 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.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification; continued employment depends 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 functions described, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient assistance and movement, and lifting and lowering solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally.

Nice To Haves

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

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 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 weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; perform and document treatment discontinuation procedures, including standing and sitting blood pressure checks and evaluation before termination of venous access.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Accurately and promptly document vital signs, treatment parameters, patient treatment information, interventions, and progress notes where applicable.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection 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 RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization 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.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as appropriate, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission 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 infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under appropriate direction.
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 facility staff to support patient experience and scheduled care.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordination of transitions to patients’ chosen modalities and with TCU supply ordering and inventory.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.