Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Adrian, MI

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organizational policies, procedures, and training and applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines and helping maintain a safe, clean work environment. It also supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities, including initiatives related to patient satisfaction and process improvement. The technician welcomes and monitors patients throughout dialysis treatment; evaluates and cannulates vascular access; obtains and documents vital signs, weights, treatment parameters, and prescribed laboratory specimens; initiates, monitors, and discontinues treatment according to orders and established procedures; responds to patient or machine concerns; and reports significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes maintaining accurate treatment and chart documentation, preparing and cleaning equipment and treatment areas, supporting infection-control practices, and assisting with staff training under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education as permitted by state law, coordinates with facility staff to support the patient experience and care plan, helps patients understand home dialysis and treatment options, assists with transition to the patient's modality choice, and helps manage supplies and inventory. Work includes computer and desk tasks and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, business unit, and corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is that of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials. The role involves direct patient care, frequent prolonged standing, bending, and regularly lifting and moving patients or assisting with ambulation. Equipment or coworkers may assist. The employee may occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift or lower solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. A two-person assist program and material-assist devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; 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 required state or CMS timeline.
Must meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
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; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the described physical duties, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; regularly lifting and moving patients or assisting with ambulation; occasionally pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations within the community.

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 on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform access cannulation, 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 evaluation.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and monitor patient responses to therapy.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document the procedures necessary to discontinue treatment, including standing and sitting blood pressure checks and evaluation before termination of venous access.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter prescribed individual dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Record accurate and timely vital signs and treatment parameters, complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes, and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor; document interventions and patient responses.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications and destination.
Clean blood spills immediately with appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and efficiently use supplies and equipment to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, training systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, document as appropriate, perform required pre-treatment machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts for admission and compile paperwork for placement in charts.
Prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens and ensure collection 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 permitted by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, 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 permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and feasibility, and explain treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform a treatment on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Assist with coordination of the transition to the patient's chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.