Patient Care Technician - PCT - CCHT

Fresenius Medical Care•Lagrange, GA

About The Position

Functions as part of a 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 technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean working environment, and supports the Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. Provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including patient welcome and well-being inquiries; vascular access assessment and cannulation; delegated heparin administration where permitted; pre-, intra-, and post-treatment monitoring; treatment initiation and discontinuation; documentation; and response to patient or machine concerns. Collects and prepares laboratory specimens, maintains treatment records, follows infection-control procedures, prepares and disinfects treatment areas and equipment, and supports patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and treatment-option transitions, assists with home-dialysis product and peritoneal dialysis setup education, operates machines used in the unit, and supports supply ordering and inventory. The role involves desk and computer work as well as regular interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, business-unit, and corporate meetings may also 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 care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, and bending. Occasional pushing or pulling of equipment may require up to 15 pounds of force. The role also involves frequently lifting and lowering solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; assistance devices and a two-person assist program are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not 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 applicable 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.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent standing and bending, patient movement and assistance with ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions up to the stated weights.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist healthcare team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their well-being since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment weight and vital signs, and perform vascular access evaluations before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, perform required functions to discontinue treatment, and document treatment completion.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures; evaluate patients before termination of venous access, including standing and sitting blood pressure.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure prescribed safety alarms, including Narrow Venous Limits, are enabled.
Record accurate and timely vital signs and treatment parameters on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and complete treatment documentation and progress notes as applicable.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy; document interventions and patient responses.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as needed, document, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills immediately with appropriate disinfectant and follow facility policy.
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 a nurse’s supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and training requirements.
Maintain safe and clean surroundings; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and treatment areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as required, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omissions are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and compile paperwork for placement in the chart.
Prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, 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 for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure visits align with the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them; explain treatment options, including demonstration of peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Help coordinate transition to the patient’s chosen modality and assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and travel to regional, business-unit, or corporate meetings when required.