Patient Care Technician - PCT - CCHT

Fresenius Medical Care•Palmetto, GA

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. Sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. Provides patient education support and performs dialysis treatment tasks, including welcoming patients; assessing vascular access; obtaining and recording vital signs and weights; initiating, monitoring, and discontinuing treatments; responding to treatment-related concerns as directed; and documenting treatment information. Reports changes in patient condition and unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. Collects and prepares laboratory specimens and maintains supplies and equipment. Helps train applicable direct patient-care staff under nurse supervision, maintains infection-control practices, cleans and disinfects treatment areas and equipment, and completes clinical records and CQI documentation. In a Transitional Care Unit, supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with staff, explains home dialysis and treatment options, helps coordinate modality transitions, and assists with inventory and supplies. The role involves desk and computer work, patient and staff interaction, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and direct patient care that can involve lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, and prolonged standing. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious materials may occur. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment, although failing it 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.
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 physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient ambulation, and lifting or moving patients and supplies.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Support patient-specific education concerning adequacy measures, the disease process, and vascular access, as appropriate and within the scope of state law.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access 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 perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to procedures; assess patients before termination of venous access and before discharge; obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF 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 patient responses in the appropriate clinical records.
Report significant information, changes in condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using the appropriate disinfectant and follow facility policy.
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.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities and 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 admission paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and support patient and family education as directed.
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, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with coordinating 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.