Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Ypsilanti, MI

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable regulatory requirements. Responsibilities include setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and quality goals. No previous dialysis experience is needed; on-the-job training is provided. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, performs dialysis treatment procedures and vascular access care as permitted, records treatment information, identifies and reports changes in patient condition, and assists with laboratory specimen handling and infection control. The position also supports the Transitional Care Unit by assisting newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforcing education, and helping coordinate transitions to patients’ chosen treatment modalities. The role is based at the Ypsilanti clinic at 1266 Anna J. Stepp Dr., Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Clinic hours are Monday through Saturday, 4:45 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the clinic is closed Sunday. Days and shifts rotate. The position includes direct patient care, facility and community travel, and work in a healthcare environment where exposure to infectious materials may occur.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Must meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions 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.

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.
Provide patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and under applicable supervision.
Evaluate vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including required pre-treatment vascular access evaluation and post-treatment assessment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and document patient responses.
Perform treatment discontinuation procedures, obtain required vital signs before reinfusion, assess patients before terminating venous access, achieve hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Enable required machine safety alarms and observe patients while conducting machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, provide appropriate interventions, and document and report unusual findings.
Report significant information and changes in patient 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 with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain safe and clean facility areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), initiate the Solution Delivery System, and document as required.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure omissions or corrections are addressed by 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 staff and patient adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control policies and procedures, and reinforce infection control 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 transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as allowed by state law, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines meet with patients according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and modality choices, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality, and help coordinate TCU supply ordering and inventory.