Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Phoenix, AZ

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 patient care, and maintaining a safe and clean environment in accordance with organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The technician welcomes patients, monitors their condition and response to treatment, assesses vascular access, obtains vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders, and documents treatment information. Duties also include responding to treatment issues as directed, collecting laboratory specimens, monitoring self-care patients under RN supervision, maintaining equipment and supplies, and supporting infection-control practices. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with other staff, supports patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with modality transitions, supply ordering, and inventory. The work involves desk and computer tasks as well as direct patient care. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may require travel to regional, business-unit, and corporate meetings. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. Frequent, prolonged standing and bending are required; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment may involve up to 15 pounds of force. The role frequently involves lifting and lowering solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet. Equipment, coworkers, and material-assist devices may be used for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara color-blindness test as a condition of employment; failing it 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 required state or CMS timeline.
Hold any applicable state licensure and complete required education and training.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Take the Ishihara color-blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the described physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, direct patient assistance, and lifting or lowering solutions up to the stated weights, with assistance or devices available for heavier items.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, business-unit, and corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess 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; program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and modeling as prescribed.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and monitor patients’ responses to therapy.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to procedures; assess patients before termination of venous access and before discharge; obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly, including on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and progress notes when applicable.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and report unusual findings or changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange pickup 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.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, conduct and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in 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 admission paperwork; prepare and print laboratory requisitions; ensure laboratory specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce related education for patients and families under direction and as permitted 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, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit; assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities and with TCU supply ordering and inventory.