Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•New Orleans, LA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician functions as part of a dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities aimed at improving patient satisfaction and outcomes. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, performs and documents pre-, intra-, and post-treatment assessments, evaluates vascular access, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders, and responds to patient or machine-related issues within established procedures. Responsibilities also include laboratory specimen collection and preparation, accurate clinical documentation, infection-control practices, equipment preparation and disinfection, and support for patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. Within the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and treatment-option transitions, supports understanding of home dialysis, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The position involves direct patient care, frequent standing and bending, and regular lifting or moving of patients and supplies. Work takes place in a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious materials. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may also be required. Employees 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.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required 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 automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing and bending, and regular heavy lifting and moving of patients with assistance as needed.
Ability to lift or lower solutions frequently up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds, including lifting as high as five feet; equipment or coworkers may assist.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community; 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

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations.
Set up and operate hemodialysis machines and prepare the treatment area, supplies, and equipment.
Welcome patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access pressures during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and evaluations, including evaluation before discharge.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Program dialysis machines for prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling, and ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks; identify, report, document, and respond to unusual findings or changes in patient condition as directed.
Perform and document interventions for unusual patient status and record patient responses.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Maintain accurate and timely treatment records, clinical application entries, treatment sheets, and progress notes; review treatment sheets for completeness and appropriate corrections.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; immediately clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant.
Maintain a safe, clean environment 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.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and support infection-control audits, practices, policies, and patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed 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 allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and planned discipline visits.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with its supply ordering and inventory.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and customer service standards.