Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Glendale, AZ

10d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician is part of the dialysis health care team and provides safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The technician supports patients throughout dialysis treatment, including checking their wellbeing, assessing vascular access, taking and recording vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment as prescribed, monitoring patient responses, addressing problems as directed, and documenting care. The position also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and supplies, supporting infection control, and assisting with patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The role requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations and may require travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work takes place in a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious materials, heavy lifting and moving patients, prolonged standing, bending, and occasional pushing or pulling of equipment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must have any applicable state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
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.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation; frequent, prolonged standing and bending; occasional pushing or pulling with up to 15 pounds of force; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations within the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility is preferred.
CHT certification is required, as indicated in the posting.

Responsibilities

Assist with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their prior treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or allowed 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 and dialysate flow settings.
Monitor patients and their responses during treatment; evaluate problems and intervene as prescribed or directed.
Perform treatment discontinuation procedures, obtain relevant vital signs, assess patients before discharge, achieve hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Document treatment parameters, patient evaluations, interventions, and other required information accurately and promptly; report significant changes or unusual findings to the nurse or supervisor.
Conduct patient and machine safety checks and monitor vascular access pressures during treatment.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently, and clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and treatment areas between treatments.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies and procedures, maintain a safe and clean environment, and participate in continuous quality improvement activities.
Enter treatment data into the designated clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing or incorrect entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions as required.
Support infection-control audits, follow infection-control procedures, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families under direction and as allowed 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 staff to coordinate services, and support patient understanding of home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with demonstrations such as peritoneal dialysis setup, and coordinate transitions to the patient’s chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.