Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Las Cruces, NM

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, helping maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality-improvement and patient-satisfaction activities. Training is provided. Continued employment depends on successfully completing the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification. The PCT assists with patient education and care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing vascular access, taking and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, monitoring patient responses, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes preparing and documenting treatment equipment, supplies, laboratory specimens, and patient records; supporting infection-control practices; and helping patients in the Transitional Care Unit understand treatment and modality options.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification to continue employment.
Pass the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform frequent, prolonged standing and bending, and to lift and move patients and assist with ambulation.
Ability to push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force occasionally; frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-aid devices are available for heavier items.

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, perform 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; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patients and machine safety during treatment, assess patient responses, identify intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access and discharge, achieve hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment evaluations, vital signs, weights, machine parameters, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as appropriate and report and document unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and label specimens, store samples according to laboratory specifications, and ensure collection by the appropriate courier.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare, organize, and efficiently use supplies and equipment to prevent waste; maintain a safe and clean environment.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, nursing signatures, and appropriate correction of omitted entries; prepare initial patient charts and organize paperwork.
Prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under appropriate direction.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law, coordinate with appropriate staff, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the patient’s plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and modality choices, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the selected modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.