Patient Care Technician

Fresenius Medical Care•Monroe, MI

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician works as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and quality goals. No previous dialysis experience is needed; on-the-job training is provided. The role provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including preparing patients and equipment, monitoring treatment and patient response, documenting care, and reporting changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also assists with patient education, laboratory specimen handling, infection control, continuous quality improvement, and training of applicable direct patient care staff under nursing supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, and helps patients understand treatment options, including home dialysis. The position involves work in a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meeting travel may also be required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational 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.
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.
Ability to perform frequent, prolonged standing and bend over.
Ability to regularly perform direct patient care involving heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation, with equipment or coworker assistance where needed.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility preferred.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or a 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 weights; perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations and other required patient evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings, and calculate and enter machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patients and their response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Perform required functions to discontinue treatment, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before treatment termination and discharge.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly; report significant information or changes in condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and 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 appropriate programs under a nurse’s supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and review treatment sheets for completeness and appropriate correction of omissions.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare or print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimen collection by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with infection control audits, support adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family infection control education as directed and permitted by law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with modality transition coordination.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.