Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT

Fresenius Medical Care•Creve Coeur, MO

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team in providing safe and effective dialysis therapy for patients under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. Responsible for the setup and operation of hemodialysis machines and assisting in maintaining a safe and clean working environment. Supports the organization's commitment to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and CQI Activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvement. This role involves direct patient care, including welcoming patients, evaluating vascular access, administering heparin, obtaining vital signs and weight, initiating and monitoring dialysis treatments, and discontinuing treatments according to established procedures. The technician is responsible for programming dialysis machines, ensuring safety alarms are enabled, and accurately documenting all treatment information. They must also observe patients, conduct machine safety checks, and report any changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse. Additionally, the technician will prepare and collect laboratory specimens, clean equipment, and assist in training other patient care staff. In the Transitional Care Unit, they will follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforcing education, coordinating care, and assisting with understanding treatment options and modalities.

Requirements

High School diploma or G.E.D. required.
Must meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
All appropriate state licensure, education, and training (if any) required.
Demonstrated commitment to organization culture, values, and customer service standards.
Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility preferred.
Continued employment is dependent on successful completion of the organization dialysis training program and successful completion of CPR certification.
Must be able to take the Ishihara's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment.
Regularly involves heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation.
Requires frequent, prolonged periods of standing.
Must be able to bend over.
May occasionally be required to push and/or pull equipment, exerting up to 15 pounds of force.
May be required to lift and to lower solutions on a frequent basis of up to 30 lbs., and on an occasional lift basis up to 40 lbs., as high as 5 feet.

Nice To Haves

Dialysis Experience Required

Responsibilities

Assist in providing patient-specific education regarding dialysis adequacy measures and disease process/access.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated.
Obtain pre and post-treatment vital signs and weight.
Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders.
Evaluate and intervene for intradialytic problems as prescribed.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis therapy.
Obtain Hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate patients prior to discharge.
Calculate and enter dialysis machine programming for Ultrafiltration (UF) goal, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled.
Record accurate and timely information regarding vital signs and treatment parameters.
Document information related to patient treatment, including progress notes.
Report significant information and/or changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patient and conduct machine safety checks.
Perform and document interventions for unusual patient status and document patients' response.
Evaluate patients’ vascular access during treatment and provide appropriate intervention.
Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection.
Clean blood spills immediately with appropriate disinfectant.
Prepare, organize, and utilize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of RN.
Assist in training of applicable direct patient care staff.
Follow all organization business policies, procedures, and systems.
Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics; ensure all areas are safe and clean.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surface, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments.
Perform all tasks necessary for preparation for dialysis treatment and document where appropriate.
Perform all required pre-treatment dialysis machine alarm testing.
Initiate Solution Delivery System (SDS) system.
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
Enter all treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and timely.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure nursing signatures and corrections are documented.
Prepare initial patient chart for admission and compile paperwork.
Prepare/print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat Lab specimens.
Collect, label, appropriately prepare and store lab samples.
Ensure collection of lab specimens by appropriate lab courier.
Assist in collecting information for infection control audits.
Support staff and patient adherence to infection control practices.
Follow infection control Policies and Procedures.
Participate in and reinforce infection control education of patients and families.
Follow all newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce all education and care related matters as it relates to the new patient.
Liaise with appropriate FKC staff members to provide the best patient experience.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of home dialysis products, benefits of home, and how home dialysis can work for them.
Set and perform a treatment on all machines used in the transitional care unit.
Assist in assuring patient understanding of treatment options including demonstration of the peritoneal dialysis set-up.
Assist with coordination of transition to patient’s modality choice.
Assist with supply ordering and inventory for TCU.