Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Espanola, NM

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) 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 organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations, and includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines and maintaining a safe, clean work environment. The PCT supports quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders, monitoring patient response, documenting treatment information, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT also collects and prepares laboratory specimens, follows infection-control practices, and supports patient education and the transition of newly admitted patients to their selected dialysis modality. Work includes desk and personal computer tasks, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community. Travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. Frequent, prolonged standing and bending are required; occasional pushing or pulling may involve up to 15 pounds of force. The role frequently requires lifting and lowering solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance from coworkers and material-assist devices is available for heavier items. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities. Employees 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.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required 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 is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
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 the described physical demands, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and assess access before and during treatment.
Obtain and record pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including appropriate standing and sitting blood pressure measurements.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, assess intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and document patient response.
Document treatment parameters and patient information accurately and promptly, including treatment sheets and progress notes when applicable.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings 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 immediately 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 organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, conduct and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data in the designated clinical application and review treatment sheets for completeness and appropriate signatures or corrections.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, 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 reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted 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 permitted by state law, and coordinate with appropriate staff so disciplines see patients according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and how home dialysis may work for them, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with coordination of transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.