Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Muskegon, MI

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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality improvement and patient satisfaction initiatives. The PCT follows organizational policies and procedures, applicable training, and corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, obtains and documents weights and vital signs, evaluates and cannulates vascular access, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to orders and established procedures, monitors treatment response, and reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The position also involves treatment documentation, laboratory specimen handling, infection control, equipment preparation and cleaning, and support for patient education and self-care monitoring. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, helps patients understand treatment and modality options, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The role involves desk and computer work, interaction with patients and health care personnel, and travel between assigned facilities and other locations in the community. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials may occur. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The position 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 and material-handling devices 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 required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Must have any required state licensure, education, and training.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
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.
Able to perform the described physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; patient lifting and movement; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; and occasional pushing or pulling with up to 15 pounds of force.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency; cannulate access and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including relevant pre-treatment and post-treatment evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, monitor patient responses, and report significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures; obtain vital signs before reinfusion, achieve hemostasis, apply dressings, evaluate the patient before discharge, and document treatment.
Record accurate, timely treatment parameters and patient information on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and in designated clinical applications; complete applicable progress notes.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy; document interventions and patient responses to unusual status.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with 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 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 Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and compile paperwork for placement in charts; prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
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 infection-control education under appropriate direction.
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 facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordinating transitions to the patient’s chosen modality, perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required.