Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Vancouver, WA

5d•$21 - $30

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), continuous quality improvement activities, patient satisfaction, and process-improvement efforts. The technician welcomes and monitors patients before, during, and after dialysis; checks vital signs, weight, vascular access, and treatment response; initiates and discontinues treatment according to prescribed orders and procedures; documents treatment information; and reports significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. Duties also include preparing and collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and supplies, following infection-control practices, and supporting 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, coordinates care with appropriate staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, performs treatments on the unit’s machines, and assists with transition planning, supply ordering, and inventory. The position involves travel between assigned facilities and community locations, with possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work is performed in a health care environment with moderate noise and possible exposure to infectious or contagious materials. Direct patient care includes frequent standing and bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting solutions and other items. Applicants must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

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.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
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 direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting solutions frequently up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist in providing patients with education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous 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 weight, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, assess and address intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform treatment discontinuation procedures, obtain vital signs before reinfusion, assess patients before termination and discharge, achieve hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and on time, including completing treatment sheets and applicable progress notes.
Conduct patient observations and machine safety checks, including vascular-access pressure monitoring, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on 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, document tasks where appropriate, perform required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly; review treatment sheets for completeness and appropriate corrections.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under direction 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, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and planned visits, and help patients understand home-dialysis products and options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate, and assist with transitions to the patient’s chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.