Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Moscow, ID

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean care environment, and contributing to the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. The technician monitors patients during treatment, carries out prescribed treatment procedures, documents care, and reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The position also supports patient education, infection control, staff training, laboratory processes, and—where applicable—care coordination for newly admitted patients in the Transitional Care Unit. Work involves direct patient care in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and potentially travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work includes frequent standing and patient handling, and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious materials. 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 Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet any 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 for continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification for continued employment.
Ability to perform direct patient care duties that include frequent, prolonged standing; bending; heavy lifting and moving of patients; and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force occasionally; lift or lower solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally, including lifting to a height of five feet.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility.

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, access assessments, and other required evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Program dialysis machines for prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment times, and UF modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to therapy, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets, progress notes, and designated clinical applications.
Perform machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Monitor vascular access and arterial and venous pressures during treatment; intervene as appropriate 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 with the appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste; assist with supply ordering and inventory for the Transitional Care Unit.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, ethical business practices, and infection control requirements; support infection control audits and reinforce infection control education for patients and families under appropriate supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment and participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and signatures, ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff, prepare initial patient charts, and prepare laboratory requisitions.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care with relevant staff.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, help explain home dialysis products and treatment options, and assist with peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations and modality transitions.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the patient’s care plan.