Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•AZ011 FMCNA Maryvale - Clinic, AZ

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with a safe and clean work environment, and participating in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including process improvement efforts focused on patient satisfaction and quality goals. The technician supports patients throughout dialysis treatment: welcoming and assessing patients, evaluating and cannulating vascular access, obtaining and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders, monitoring patients and treatment parameters, responding to problems as directed, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also involves patient education and support, laboratory specimen collection and preparation, infection control, equipment and treatment-area cleaning, accurate clinical documentation, and preparation of treatment supplies and equipment. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, sets up and performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with transition to the patient’s chosen modality and with unit supplies and inventory. The work involves direct patient care and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required, and regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meeting travel may be required. The position is based in a health care facility environment with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Physical duties include frequent, prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient lifting and movement and ambulation, and frequently lifting solutions up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Occasional pushing or pulling of equipment may require up to 15 pounds of force. Assistance devices and coworkers are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will 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.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access patency, perform vascular access cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including the required patient identification and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow.
Calculate and enter each patient’s prescribed machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and document interventions and responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document the required functions for treatment discontinuation, including standing and sitting blood pressure checks and evaluation before termination of venous access.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate the patient before discharge.
Record timely and accurate vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment information, and progress notes when applicable; report significant information or patient-condition changes to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as needed, document findings, and report unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange appropriate courier collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Clean blood spills immediately using the appropriate disinfectant and facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices incorporated into training.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect the dialysis machine surface, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, complete required documentation, perform pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document ongoing CQI activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork; prepare or print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination.
Assist with infection control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control 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 dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support 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; assist with understanding treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with coordinating transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.