Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Englewood, CO

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician functions as part of a dialysis health care team, providing 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 work environment, and supports quality improvement activities related to patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The technician provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments, monitoring patients and equipment, recording treatment information, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The position also supports patient education, laboratory collection and documentation, infection control, staff training, and the coordination and education of patients in the Transitional Care Unit. The work includes desk and computer tasks as well as interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. Frequent, prolonged standing and bending are required. Occasional pushing or pulling of equipment up to 15 pounds is required, along with frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices and a two-person assist program are available for heavier items. Employees 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.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Possess any state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions as described.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and assess access before and during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including standing and sitting blood pressures as applicable.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; monitor patients’ responses and intervene as prescribed or directed.
Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, observe patients, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in treatment records and the designated clinical application.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange appropriate courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies and procedures, maintain a safe and clean environment, and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, conduct required machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding tests, initiate the Solution Delivery System, and document as required.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure required signatures and corrections are obtained from appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and related paperwork, and prepare or 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 policies, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee 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 matters for new patients as allowed by state law; liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with coordination of transitions to patients’ chosen modalities, and help coordinate supply ordering and inventory for the unit.