Patient Care Technician- PCT- Training Provided

Fresenius Medical Care•Binghamton, NY

21h•$15 - $24

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician works as part of a dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with a safe and clean working environment, and participating in quality improvement activities related to patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The technician welcomes and monitors patients during treatment, performs delegated patient-care tasks such as vascular access evaluation and cannulation, obtains and documents vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, and reports changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes machine safety checks, treatment documentation, laboratory specimen handling, infection control, equipment preparation and cleaning, and support for continuous quality improvement activities. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education as permitted by state law, coordinates care with appropriate staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, supports transitions to a chosen modality, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The position involves desk and computer work, interaction with patients and clinical staff, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to meetings. The work takes place in a health care facility with moderate noise and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and occasional pushing or pulling equipment. Employees may need to lift solutions weighing up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally; assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment, though failing it does not preclude employment and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

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.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program as a condition of continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.
Ability to perform the described physical functions, including frequent standing and lifting, moving patients, assisting with ambulation, and bending; reasonable accommodations may be made.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment.

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 dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required patient identification and evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct required machine safety checks and pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding (PHT).
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, patient assessments, interventions, and responses accurately and promptly; complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes.
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 findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier 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 business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices incorporated into training.
Maintain safe and clean areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Conduct tasks necessary to prepare for dialysis treatment and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly into 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, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under direction 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, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and the peritoneal dialysis setup; support coordination of transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.