Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Oswego, IL

12d•$18 - $27

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 organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The position is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and supporting quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and achievement of organizational quality goals. The role provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, obtaining and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment as prescribed, monitoring patient responses, responding to problems, collecting laboratory specimens, and reporting significant changes to the registered nurse or supervisor. It also includes accurate treatment documentation, machine safety checks, infection-control practices, equipment preparation and cleaning, and assisting with patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate their transitional care. This includes reinforcing education, supporting understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, coordinating the transition to the patient’s chosen modality, setting up and performing treatments on unit machines, and assisting with supply ordering and inventory. The position involves desk and computer work, interactions with patients and care-team members, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, business-unit, and corporate meetings may also be required. The work takes place in 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 lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation, frequent prolonged standing and bending, and lifting or moving solutions and equipment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 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 CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Hold any state licensure and complete any education and training required for the role.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to continue employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification to continue employment.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.
Be able to perform the role’s physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient lifting, movement, and ambulation, and lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally as high as five feet; assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required initial identification and pre-treatment access evaluation.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow rates, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patient responses and intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, document responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, obtain required pre-reinfusion vital signs, assess the patient before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate the patient before discharge.
Evaluate and document vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures, and report unusual findings.
Complete accurate and timely treatment records, including the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and applicable progress notes.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with the 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 business policies and procedures, including ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required pretreatment machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding (PHT), initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS), and document as appropriate.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities; enter treatment data accurately and on time in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts for admission and compile paperwork for placement in the chart.
Prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens based on laboratory destination.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under 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 liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care disciplines.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and feasibility; explain treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordination of transition 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.