Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Sheboygan, WI

24d•Onsite

About The Position

This role functions as part of the dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy to patients under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The technician is responsible for the setup and operation of hemodialysis machines, assisting in maintaining a safe and clean environment, and supporting the organization's commitment to quality improvement activities. Comprehensive, on-the-job training is provided.

Requirements

High School diploma or G.E.D. required.
Must meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
All appropriate state licensure, education, and training (if any) required.
Demonstrated commitment to organization culture, values, and customer service standards.
Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility preferred.
Successful completion of the organization dialysis training program.
Successful completion of CPR certification.
Must take the Ishihara's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

Dialysis specific experience preferred, not required.

Responsibilities

Assist in providing patient-specific education regarding dialysis adequacy measures and disease processes.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated.
Obtain pre and post-treatment vital signs and weight.
Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders.
Monitor patients' response to dialysis therapy and evaluate intradialytic problems, providing intervention as prescribed.
Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures and evaluate patient prior to discharge.
Calculate and program dialysis machine settings for Ultrafiltration (UF) goal, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure safety alarms are enabled on dialysis machines.
Record accurate and timely treatment data, vital signs, and treatment parameters.
Document information related to patient treatment, including progress notes.
Report significant changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Conduct machine safety checks and report any unusual findings.
Perform and document interventions for unusual patient status and their response.
Evaluate patients’ vascular access during treatment, provide intervention, and report findings.
Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection.
Clean blood spills immediately according to facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and utilize supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of an RN.
Assist in training other direct patient care staff on appropriate programs.
Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics, ensuring all areas are safe and clean.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Perform all tasks necessary for preparation for dialysis treatment, including machine alarm testing.
Initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS) system.
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
Enter all treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and timely.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure proper documentation and corrections.
Prepare initial patient charts for admission and compile paperwork.
Prepare and print lab requisitions and collect, label, prepare, and store lab samples.
Ensure collection of lab specimens by appropriate lab courier.
Assist in collecting information for infection control audits.
Support staff and patient adherence to infection control practices and policies.
Participate in and reinforce infection control education for patients and families.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care related matters for new patients.
Liaise with FKC staff to ensure all disciplines are scheduled to see patients.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of home dialysis products and benefits.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the transitional care unit.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of treatment options, including peritoneal dialysis setup demonstration.
Assist with coordination of transition to the patient’s modality choice.
Assist with supply ordering and inventory for the TCU.