Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Bullhead City, AZ

About The Position

Functions as part of a dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and participating in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities to support patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The technician welcomes and monitors patients throughout treatment, assesses vascular access, initiates and discontinues dialysis according to prescribed orders and established procedures, records treatment information, and reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The position also supports patient education, infection-control practices, staff training, laboratory specimen handling, clinical recordkeeping, and care transitions for newly admitted patients in the Transitional Care Unit. The work includes desk and computer tasks and 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 characteristic of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. Frequent, prolonged standing and bending are required; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment up to 15 pounds and frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds, with occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet, may be required. Assistance devices and two-person assistance 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 required.
Must meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must meet applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
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.
Ability to perform the stated physical duties, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions as described.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education on adequacy measures, disease processes, and access, as appropriate.
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 record pre-, intradialytic, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, and program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Monitor patients’ responses to therapy, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Complete and document patient evaluations, treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, and responses accurately and promptly, including required treatment sheets and progress notes.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient observation and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as appropriate, and report unusual findings or changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare requisitions, collect and label samples, store them according to laboratory specifications, and coordinate their collection by the appropriate courier.
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 programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain safe and clean facility areas.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, complete required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, initiate the Solution Delivery System, and document as appropriate.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and timely; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts for admission and compile paperwork for placement in the chart.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families 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, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transitions 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.