Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Conyers, GA

27d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and supports quality-enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, performs vascular-access assessments and cannulation, obtains and documents vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues prescribed dialysis treatments, monitors treatment response, responds to problems as directed, and reports changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also handles treatment documentation, prescribed laboratory specimens, machine safety checks, infection-control practices, equipment preparation and cleaning, and related recordkeeping. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician helps coordinate the care and education of newly admitted dialysis patients during their first four weeks, supports their understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, helps coordinate transitions to a selected modality, and assists with equipment, supplies, and inventory. The position involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and frequent standing, bending, and lifting. A current CCHT certification is explicitly required by the posting.

Requirements

Current CCHT certification is required, as stated in the posting.
High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Must meet any applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer-service standards.
Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.
Able to meet the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; assisting with patient lifting, movement, and ambulation; occasionally pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lifting and lowering solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.
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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and according to prescribed orders and applicable policies and regulations.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their prior treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access pressures during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intradialytic, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required patient identification and evaluations.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to established procedures and prescribed treatment parameters.
Calculate and enter dialysis-machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to therapy, evaluate intradialytic problems, perform interventions as directed, document patient responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a nurse or supervisor.
Perform machine safety checks and observe patients according to facility policy.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge and before termination of venous access as specified by procedure.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment efficiently, and clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and follow infection-control policies and practices.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly work areas and follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and appropriate nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families as directed and as permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary visits.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and help coordinate transitions to the patient’s chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.