Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Kennewick, WA

5d•$21 - $28

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) 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 follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable state and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including patient assessment, vascular access care and cannulation, treatment initiation and discontinuation, vital-sign and weight monitoring, machine programming and safety checks, documentation, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also supports patient education, laboratory specimen handling, infection-control practices, staff training, and continuous quality improvement. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician helps coordinate new patients’ first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, assists with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities, and helps manage supplies and inventory. Work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The health care environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious materials. Direct care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation; frequent standing and bending; occasional pushing or pulling equipment; and frequent lifting of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds. Assistance and material-handling devices 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 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.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment. Failing the test does not preclude employment; reasonable accommodations will be considered.
Ability to perform the described physical functions, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient lifting and ambulation, and handling solutions weighing up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally; assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education regarding dialysis adequacy measures, disease process, and vascular access as appropriate and as allowed by state law.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access patency, cannulate vascular access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Evaluate and address intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and report significant information or condition changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in treatment sheets, progress notes, and designated clinical applications.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy; evaluate vascular access and arterial and venous pressures during treatment, intervening and reporting unusual findings as needed.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to requirements.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain safe and clean areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, document preparation tasks where appropriate, complete required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing or omitted entries are appropriately completed or corrected.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare or print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimen collection by the appropriate laboratory courier.
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 the direction of the CM or designee as allowed 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 allowed by state law; liaise with appropriate staff to coordinate the patient experience and scheduled discipline visits.
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 supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required.