Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Bowling Green, VA

3d•$15 - $24•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. The technician welcomes patients, assesses their wellbeing and vascular access, obtains and records pre- and post-treatment measurements, initiates and monitors dialysis treatments, responds to treatment issues as directed, and completes treatment documentation. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and supplies, following infection-control procedures, and assisting with staff training under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patients as they learn about treatment and home-dialysis options, and helps coordinate transitions to the patient’s chosen modality. The work involves direct patient care in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may include travel to organizational meetings. Employees may encounter infectious materials and must be able to perform the physical activities described in the posting, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required 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 to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Be able to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, lifting and lowering solutions, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and occasionally pushing or pulling equipment.
Employees are required to take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

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 about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access, 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 and respond to intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and monitor patients’ responses to treatment.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document the procedures needed to discontinue treatment.
Assess patients before ending treatment, including standing and sitting blood pressure, obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits at 160.
Accurately and promptly document vital signs, treatment parameters, patient treatment information, interventions, and patient responses.
Report significant information, changes in condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and prepare specimens for collection.
Clean blood spills immediately with appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
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 policies, procedures, systems, and 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, complete required documentation, perform 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 in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, prepare and print laboratory requisitions, collect and label samples, store them according to laboratory specifications, and ensure courier collection.
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 matters for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and coordinate appointments according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup through demonstration.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, help coordinate transition to the patient’s chosen modality, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.