Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Dodgeville, WI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team in providing safe and effective dialysis therapy for patients under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. Responsible for the setup and operation of hemodialysis machines and assisting in maintaining a safe and clean working environment. Supports the organization's commitment to Quality Enhancement Programs (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvement initiatives.

Requirements

High School diploma or G.E.D. required.
Must meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
All appropriate state licensure, education, and training (if any) required.
Demonstrated commitment to organization culture, values, and customer service standards.
Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility preferred.
Continued employment is dependent on successful completion of the organization dialysis training program.
Successful completion of CPR certification.
Employees are required to take the Ishihara's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment.
Regularly involves heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation.
Requires frequent, prolonged periods of standing and the employee must be able to bend over.
May be required to push and/or pull equipment, exerting up to 15 pounds of force.
May be required to lift and to lower solutions on a frequent basis of up to 30 lbs., and on an occasional lift basis up to 40 lbs., as high as 5 feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist in providing patient-specific education regarding dialysis adequacy measures and disease process/access.
Welcome assigned patients, evaluate their well-being, and assess vascular access for patency.
Perform vascular access cannulation and administer heparin as delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain pre and post-treatment vital signs and weight.
Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders, including blood flow (QB) and dialysate flow (QD).
Evaluate and intervene for intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed.
Monitor patients' response to dialysis therapy.
Obtain vital signs prior to reinfusion and perform discontinuation procedures.
Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures and evaluate patient prior to termination of venous access.
Obtain Hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate the patient prior to discharge.
Perform and record pre and post dialysis evaluation, weight, and vital signs with initial identification.
Calculate and enter individual patients’ dialysis machine programming for Ultrafiltration (UF) goal, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
Record accurate and timely information regarding vital signs and treatment parameters onto the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet.
Accurately document information related to patient treatment, including completion of Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and progress notes.
Report any significant information and/or change in patient condition directly to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patient and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Report any change or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document any intervention for unusual patient status and document patients' response to intervention.
Evaluate patients’ vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures, and provide appropriate intervention as needed.
Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection.
Ensure that all blood spills are immediately cleaned with appropriate disinfectant.
Prepare, organize, and efficiently utilize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of the RN.
Assist in training of applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under the supervision of a nurse.
Follow all organization business policies, procedures, and systems, including compliance with ethical business practices.
Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics, ensuring all areas are safe and clean.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surface, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments.
Conduct all tasks necessary for preparation for dialysis treatment and perform all required pre-treatment dialysis machine alarm testing.
Initiate Solution Delivery System (SDS) system.
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
Enter all treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and timely.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected.
Prepare initial patient chart for admission and compile paperwork for appropriate placement in chart.
Prepare/print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat Lab specimens.
Collect, label, appropriately prepare and store lab samples according to required laboratory specifications.
Ensure collection of lab specimens by appropriate lab courier.
Assist in collecting information for infection control audits.
Support staff and patient adherence to infection control practices.
Follow infection control policies and procedures.
Participate in and reinforce infection control education of patients and families.
Follow all newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce all education and care related matters for new patients.
Liaise with appropriate FKC staff members to provide the best patient experience.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of home dialysis products, benefits of home dialysis, and how it can work for them.
Set up and perform a treatment on all machines used in the transitional care unit.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of treatment options, including demonstration of the peritoneal dialysis set-up.
Assist with coordination of transition to patient’s modality choice.
Assist with supply ordering and inventory for TCU.