Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Ada, OK

About The Position

Functions as part of the 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 technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, patient satisfaction, and process improvements. The role provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including welcoming patients, assessing their wellbeing and vascular access, obtaining and documenting weights and vital signs, initiating and monitoring prescribed treatments, responding to treatment issues, discontinuing treatment, and evaluating patients before discharge. The technician also documents treatment information, reports changes in patient condition, collects laboratory specimens, maintains supplies and equipment, and follows infection-control practices. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with equipment and supply needs. The position includes desk and computer work 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 healthcare-facility environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care involves frequent prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assisting with ambulation. The employee may occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift or lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may 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.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete 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 demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation; occasionally pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.
Able to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; 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

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Provide patient-specific education support, including education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate and within applicable state law.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including required assessments before treatment, before reinfusion, and before discharge.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings, and calculate and enter prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and document patient responses.
Perform and document dialysis discontinuation procedures, including evaluation before termination of venous access, standing and sitting blood pressure measurements, hemostasis, and appropriate dressings.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled, observe patients, conduct machine safety checks, and report changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular-access pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, document findings, and report unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Complete accurate and timely treatment records, including vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment sheets, and applicable progress notes.
Report significant information and changes in patient condition directly to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills immediately using the appropriate disinfectant and facility procedures.
Prepare, organize, and efficiently use supplies and equipment 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, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain safe and clean areas and environmental integrity.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as appropriate, complete required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document ongoing 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 paperwork for admission and placement in the chart; 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 the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care-related information for new patients as allowed by state law; liaise with appropriate staff to coordinate the patient experience and appointments with disciplines according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and how home dialysis may work for them; demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Assist with coordinating transition to the patient's chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.