Patient Care Technitian - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Decatur, GA

5d•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 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. This role involves direct patient care, including monitoring patients during dialysis, assisting with treatments, and educating patients on their care. The technician will also be responsible for accurate record-keeping, infection control practices, and potentially assisting with transitional care unit patients and home dialysis education.

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.
Must pass the Ishihara's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment (or reasonable accommodations can be made).

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist in providing patient-specific education regarding adequacy measures and disease process/access.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated.
Obtain pre and post-treatment vital signs and weight.
Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders.
Evaluate and intervene in intradialytic problems as prescribed.
Monitor patients' response to dialysis therapy.
Obtain vital signs prior to reinfusion and perform discontinuation procedures.
Evaluate patient prior to discharge and obtain Hemostasis.
Calculate and enter dialysis machine programming for Ultrafiltration (UF) goal, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled.
Record accurate and timely information regarding vital signs and treatment parameters.
Document patient treatment information, including completion of Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and progress notes.
Report significant information or changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patient and conduct machine safety checks.
Perform and document interventions for unusual patient status and document patients' response.
Evaluate patients’ vascular access during treatment and report unusual findings.
Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection.
Clean blood spills immediately with appropriate disinfectant.
Prepare, organize, and utilize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of RN.
Assist in training of applicable direct patient care staff.
Follow all organization business policies, procedures, and systems.
Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics; ensure all areas are safe and clean.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments.
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 and ensure nursing signatures are documented.
Prepare initial patient chart for admission and compile paperwork.
Prepare/print lab requisitions and collect, label, prepare, and store lab samples.
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 newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce 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 and benefits.
Set and perform a treatment on all machines used in the transitional care unit.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of treatment options, including demonstration of peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordination of transition to patient’s modality choice.
Assist with supply ordering and inventory for TCU.