Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Clifton Park, NY

16d•$15 - $24

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 organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal requirements. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, patient satisfaction, and process improvement efforts. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatment, monitoring patient response, documenting treatment information, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a nurse or supervisor. It also includes specimen collection and preparation, infection-control practices, equipment preparation and disinfection, recordkeeping, and assistance with training direct patient care staff under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports patient understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with equipment and supply needs. The work includes desk and computer tasks and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required, and travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required. The health care facility environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise levels; exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials may occur. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The role requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending, occasional pushing or pulling with up to 15 pounds of force, frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet. Assistance 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 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 to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; patient lifting and movement; and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment within the stated limits.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate and allowed by state law.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations, and complete patient identification and evaluation procedures.
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.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as ordered or directed, monitor patient response, and document interventions and responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document functions required to discontinue treatment, including standing and sitting blood pressure checks where specified.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, evaluate the patient before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate the patient before discharge.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Record accurate, timely vital signs and treatment parameters on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and complete applicable treatment documentation and progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures; intervene as needed, document, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, and store specimens according to laboratory specifications; prepare requisitions; and ensure collection by the appropriate courier.
Clean blood spills immediately with the appropriate disinfectant and follow facility policy.
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 organizational business policies, procedures, training systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain safe and clean areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as appropriate, perform required pre-treatment 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 into the designated clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure signatures and corrections are completed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts for admission and compile paperwork for placement in the chart.
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 infection-control education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed 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 matters for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the 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.
Assist patients in understanding treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup, and help coordinate transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.