Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Lenoir, NC

15d

About The Position

Functions as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean working environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities aimed at improving patient satisfaction and outcomes. The technician welcomes patients, checks their wellbeing, evaluates vascular access, obtains pre- and post-treatment measurements, initiates and monitors dialysis treatments, responds to treatment issues as directed, and documents treatment information. The position also supports patient education, laboratory collection and preparation, infection control, staff training, and the organization and cleaning of treatment equipment and areas. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with relevant staff, supports patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, assists with modality transitions, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The work includes desk and computer tasks and direct interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required, and travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required. The healthcare-facility environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials is possible. Direct patient care involves frequent heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, prolonged standing, bending, and occasional pushing or pulling equipment. Employees may frequently lift or lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift 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, though failing it does not automatically 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.
Hold any applicable state licensure and complete required education and training.
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.
Take 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 the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions.

Nice To Haves

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

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 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 vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and intervene as prescribed by physician order or as directed; monitor and document patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform the functions needed to discontinue treatment, including standing and sitting blood pressure checks, hemostasis, and dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and complete pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, weights, and vital signs with initial identification.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Record vital signs and treatment parameters accurately and promptly on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet, and complete related treatment documentation and progress notes where applicable.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy; document interventions and patient responses to unusual status.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Clean blood spills immediately with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in 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 machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document tasks as appropriate, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document ongoing CQI activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork; prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
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 allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary visits.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and support understanding of treatment options and transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.