Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Santa Barbara, CA

14h•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician functions as part of the 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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The technician welcomes patients, takes and records vital signs and weights, evaluates and cannulates vascular access, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders, monitors patient and machine status, responds to treatment concerns as directed, and documents care. The position also involves collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, supporting infection-control practices, cleaning and preparing equipment and treatment areas, and assisting with patient education and staff training under appropriate 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, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, supports modality transitions, and assists with supplies and inventory. The role requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may require travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work takes place in a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials may occur. Direct patient care involves frequent heavy lifting and moving of patients, prolonged standing, bending, and occasional pushing or pulling of equipment. Employees must pass the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment, although failure 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 applicable 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 continue employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification to continue employment.
Pass the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent heavy lifting and moving of patients, prolonged standing, bending, and occasional pushing or pulling of equipment.
Ability to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; assistance devices or coworkers may be used for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy as part of the health care team under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.
Set up and operate hemodialysis machines and complete required machine safety checks and pretreatment alarm testing.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before and during treatment.
Perform vascular access cannulation and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patient responses and treatment parameters, identify unusual findings or changes in condition, provide interventions as directed, and report concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, evaluate patients before discharge, and document treatment and patient status accurately and promptly.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; promptly clean blood spills using the required disinfectant.
Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage, and maintain a safe and clean environment.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under a nurse’s supervision.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and have omitted entries completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and lab requisitions, and support accurate placement of paperwork in patient records.
Support infection-control audits, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families as permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help patients understand home dialysis and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, assist with modality transitions, and help coordinate supply ordering and inventory.