Patient Care Technician - PCT - Regional Float

Fresenius Medical Care•Fishers, IN

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 organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. Sets up and operates hemodialysis machines and helps maintain a safe, clean work environment. Supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), continuous quality improvement (CQI), patient satisfaction, and process improvement activities. The technician welcomes patients, checks their wellbeing, evaluates vascular access, performs cannulation, obtains vital signs and weights, initiates and monitors prescribed dialysis treatments, responds to treatment issues as directed, and safely discontinues treatment. Duties include documenting treatment information, monitoring patient responses and machine safety, reporting changes or unusual findings to a nurse or supervisor, collecting laboratory specimens, and maintaining supplies and equipment. The role may also monitor patients performing self-care and assist with training direct patient care staff under nurse supervision. The position includes infection-control activities and, in the Transitional Care Unit, supporting newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis. This includes reinforcing education, coordinating care with facility staff, explaining home dialysis and treatment options, assisting with modality transitions, and helping manage supplies and inventory. Work includes desk and computer tasks as well as direct patient care. The role requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations, with possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and corporate meetings. The healthcare-facility environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and occasional pushing or pulling equipment. Employees may frequently lift or lower solutions up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment, though failing it does not preclude employment and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must have all applicable state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.
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.
Must be able to perform the described physical duties, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education support regarding adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document 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 intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and monitor patient responses to therapy.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; assess patients before termination and discharge; and obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Accurately and promptly document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses in treatment sheets, progress notes, and designated clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, intervene as appropriate, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and document specimens, and arrange their collection by the appropriate laboratory 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 appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and collect, label, prepare, and store samples according to laboratory specifications.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under direction and as allowed by state law.
For Transitional Care Unit patients, coordinate transitional dialysis care through the first four weeks, reinforce education, liaise with appropriate staff to support the care plan and patient experience, and help coordinate discipline visits.
Assist patients in understanding home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, explain treatment options, and coordinate 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.