Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Spokane, WA

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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated tasks permitted by law, initiates and discontinues treatments according to prescribed orders, monitors patient responses, responds to treatment concerns, and documents patient care. The role also involves preparing equipment and supplies, conducting machine safety checks, collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining accurate records, supporting infection control, and assisting with staff training under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, helps patients understand treatment and home dialysis options, and assists with transition planning and supply inventory. Work includes patient interaction and computer and desk tasks, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and direct care that may involve lifting and moving patients. The environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious materials may occur.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Hold any required state licensure and complete applicable education and training.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program and CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Be able to take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Be able to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assistance with ambulation; frequently stand for prolonged periods and bend over; occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
Be able to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist other health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and assess patients before and after treatment.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and prescribed modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients' responses to dialysis, evaluate and intervene in intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform machine safety checks, assess vascular access during treatment, document findings and interventions, and evaluate patient status before discharge.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, conduct and document required machine alarm tests, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure required signatures and corrections are obtained from appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare and print laboratory requisitions, and coordinate specimen collection by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection control audits, support adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control policies, and reinforce patient and family education as directed and permitted by 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 appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with its supply ordering and inventory.