Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Grand Bay, AL

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines and helping maintain a safe, clean work environment. It supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, patient satisfaction, and process improvement efforts. The Patient Care Technician welcomes and monitors patients, performs vascular access and treatment tasks, records clinical information, and reports changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor. The role also performs dialysis-machine safety checks, collects and prepares laboratory specimens, supports infection-control practices, and assists with staff and patient education as permitted by state law. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, supports transitions to the patient’s chosen modality, and assists with supplies and inventory. The job includes desk and computer work, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The environment is typical of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials may occur. Direct patient care involves frequent, prolonged standing, bending, and regularly lifting or moving patients. The role may also require pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Equipment, coworkers, and material-assist devices may help with heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; failing it does not automatically 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.
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 automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift or lower solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last 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 the required assessments before reinfusion and discharge.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate and intervene in treatment problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, assessments, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets, progress notes, and designated clinical applications.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of laboratory specimens according to requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using the appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of an RN.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis and perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding (PHT); initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document participation in CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure required signatures and corrections are completed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for admission, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow applicable policies and procedures, and reinforce infection-control education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled services.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, explain treatment options, and assist with transitions to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on all 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.