Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Salem, OR

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 and helps maintain a safe, clean working environment. Supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, patient satisfaction, and process improvements. The technician assists with patient education and care throughout dialysis treatment, including patient assessment, vascular access evaluation and cannulation, vital signs and weight measurement, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring, interventions, documentation, specimen collection, and reporting changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes machine safety checks, infection-control practices, equipment and area cleaning, record keeping, and support for staff training. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patients in understanding home dialysis and treatment options, assists with modality transitions, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The role involves desk and computer work, interaction with patients and clinical staff, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may require travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings. The work environment is a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials may occur. Direct patient care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. Frequent, prolonged standing and bending are required; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment up to 15 pounds, frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet may be required. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; 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 applicable 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.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to meet the described physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment within stated limits, with assistance or material-handling devices available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and monitor patients’ responses to therapy.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; perform functions needed to discontinue treatment; document treatment; and evaluate patients before and after treatment termination.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
Document vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment information, and interventions accurately and promptly, including on treatment sheets and progress notes when applicable.
Report significant information, changes in condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices covered in training.
Maintain a safe and clean environment and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, document as required, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities; 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 paperwork for placement in the chart; prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce 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 their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and how home dialysis may work for them.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Help patients understand treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with coordinating transition to their chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.