Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care • Des Plaines, IL

10d • $17 - $27

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean treatment environment, supporting quality improvement activities, and contributing to patient satisfaction and quality goals.

The technician welcomes and monitors patients, performs vascular access evaluations and cannulation, obtains and records vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders, and responds to treatment-related issues as directed. The position also involves programming dialysis machines, completing accurate treatment documentation, reporting changes in patient condition, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, and following facility safety and infection-control procedures.

In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, assists with transitions to the patient’s selected modality, and helps manage supplies and inventory.

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.
• 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 the described physical functions, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Provide patient-specific education under the direction of other health care team members, including education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
• Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
• Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as 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 responses to dialysis therapy and report significant information or changes in condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, evaluate patients before discharge, and obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
• Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
• Ensure required safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, interventions, and other patient-treatment information in required records and clinical applications.
• Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, provide appropriate interventions, and document and report unusual findings.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
• Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
• Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under the supervision of a nurse.
• Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
• Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
• Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omissions are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure laboratory specimens are collected 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.
• 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, explain treatment options, and assist with demonstrations of peritoneal dialysis setup.
• Assist with coordination of transitions to patients’ chosen modalities and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential for performance-based bonuses, depending on company and individual performance, for bonus-eligible positions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED