Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Los Lunas, NM

10d•Onsite

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 organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT 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 quality goals. The PCT supports patients throughout dialysis treatment, including preparing and operating equipment, monitoring patients and vascular access, recording treatment information, responding to changes in patient condition, and reporting concerns to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also supports laboratory specimen collection, infection control, staff training, record keeping, and transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients. Training is provided; continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program and CPR certification. The position involves day-to-day desk and computer work as well as direct patient care and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required, and travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The role requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending, occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices and coworkers 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 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 for continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification for continued employment.
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 physical requirements of the role, including frequent prolonged standing, 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.

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their well-being since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency; perform cannulation and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain 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; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, assess intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess the patient before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate the patient before discharge.
Record pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, weights, vital signs, treatment parameters, and other treatment information accurately and promptly, including required identification and documentation.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, observe patients, and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor; document interventions and patient responses.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
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 organization business 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 according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
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, prepare or print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected 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 for new patients as allowed by state law, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines see the patient according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and how home dialysis may work for them; demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the transitional care unit, assist with coordination of the patient's transition to their chosen modality, and help manage TCU supplies and inventory.