Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Victor, NY

4d•$15 - $24

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe, 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 environment, and participating in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities, including process improvements related to patient satisfaction and quality goals. Dialysis experience is not required; paid training is provided. The position requires successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification, and meeting applicable CMS-approved certification requirements within the required timeline. The technician welcomes and monitors patients before, during, and after dialysis; evaluates vascular access; performs cannulation and delegated heparin administration as permitted; obtains and records vital signs and weights; initiates and discontinues treatments according to orders and procedures; operates and checks dialysis equipment; responds to patient or treatment issues; and documents treatment information. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining infection-control practices, cleaning and disinfecting equipment and the treatment area, and assisting with patient education and staff training under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates with facility staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, assists with transitions to the chosen modality, and supports supply ordering and inventory. The work includes desk and computer work, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The healthcare environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious materials. Direct patient care involves frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assisting with ambulation. The employee may occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift or lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. An Ishihara color blindness test is required 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.
Successfully complete the organization dialysis training program; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer-service standards.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally.
Travel between assigned facilities and various locations in the community as required.
Take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular-access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits.
Monitor patients’ response to therapy, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatments according to established procedures, evaluate patients before termination of venous access and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Record timely and accurate vital signs, treatment parameters, evaluations, interventions, and other required treatment documentation.
Report significant information, changes in condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient-care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on omitted entries or corrections with appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow relevant policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family infection-control education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to coordinate services and support the patient experience.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with coordination of the transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and customer-service standards.