Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Lafayette, IN

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. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and supporting quality improvement and patient satisfaction activities. The technician assists with patient education, dialysis treatment, monitoring and documentation, laboratory specimen handling, infection control, and transitional care for newly admitted patients. Work includes interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians; travel between assigned facilities and other locations in the community may be required. The work environment is a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation.

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.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program to continue employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification to continue employment.
Able to perform frequent and prolonged standing and bend over.
Able to lift and lower solutions frequently, up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as 5 feet.
Able to occasionally push and/or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force.
Able to perform direct patient care involving heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation; assistance and material-aid devices are available for heavier items.
Travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.
Complete the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility.

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome patients and inquire about their wellbeing since the previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter individual dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, intervene as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; evaluate patients before treatment termination and discharge; obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, evaluations, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly.
Conduct patient observation and machine safety checks according to facility policy, including vascular access pressure monitoring during treatment.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Clean blood spills and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas according to facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently; perform treatment preparation tasks and required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision and assist in training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe and clean environment.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data, review treatment sheets for completeness, and help ensure missing or omitted entries are appropriately addressed.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print lab requisitions, and coordinate collection of laboratory specimens.
Assist with infection control audits, support adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under direction 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, coordinate with facility staff to support the patient experience, and help patients understand home dialysis products and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit; demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup and assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.