Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Shreveport, LA

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) 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 follows organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and participates in the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), and process-improvement activities supporting patient satisfaction and quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, collecting vital signs and weights, initiating and monitoring treatments, responding to problems, documenting care, and communicating significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT also supports patient education, infection control, laboratory specimen handling, equipment preparation and disinfection, and training of applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate transitional care, reinforce education, explain treatment and home-dialysis options, support modality transitions, and assist with supplies and inventory. Work includes desk and 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 setting is a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation; the role also requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending. Occasional pushing or pulling of equipment may require 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 may be required. A two-person assist program and material-assist 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 will be considered.

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.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s 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 will be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, patient movement and ambulation assistance, and lifting or lowering solutions as specified.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist healthcare team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their prior 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 according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document the steps required to discontinue treatment, including standing and sitting blood pressure measurements where applicable.
Obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient-specific machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms, including Narrow Venous Limits, are enabled.
Accurately and promptly document vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment information, and applicable progress notes, with required initial identification.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access monitoring concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy; perform and document interventions for unusual patient status.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and prepare specimens for collection.
Clean blood spills immediately using the appropriate disinfectant and facility procedures.
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 business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment, including cleaning and disinfecting dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as required, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Enter treatment data accurately and promptly into 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 compile paperwork for placement in the chart.
Prepare and print laboratory requisitions; collect, label, prepare, and store laboratory specimens according to laboratory requirements; ensure collection by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, 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 as permitted by state law.
Coordinate with appropriate FKC staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Help patients understand treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordinating the transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.