Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Locust Grove, GA

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician functions as part of the 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 is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with the maintenance of a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The technician provides direct patient care before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include evaluating vascular access, cannulation, administering heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, collecting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to orders and procedures, monitoring patient response, responding to treatment problems as directed, documenting care, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also involves obtaining and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining infection-control practices, preparing equipment and supplies, and completing treatment and quality-improvement records. 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, supports patients’ understanding of treatment and home dialysis options, helps coordinate transitions to a chosen modality, and assists with supplies and inventory. The position involves work in a healthcare facility and travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. Work includes computer and desk tasks and regular interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. The role may involve exposure to infectious materials and requires frequent standing, bending, lifting, moving, and assisting patients with ambulation. The employee may occasionally push or pull equipment and must lift and lower solutions and other items within the stated weight limits. An Ishihara color blindness test is a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and follow organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations.
Set up and operate hemodialysis machines and conduct required machine safety checks and pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding (PHT).
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous 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-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform patient evaluations before treatment and discharge.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, including prescribed blood flow, dialysate flow, treatment time, ultrafiltration goals, and modeling.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and document treatment parameters, patient status, interventions, and responses accurately and promptly.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste; maintain a safe and clean environment.
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, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and promptly.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omissions are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission 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 policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled interdisciplinary care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist in coordinating transition to the patient’s selected modality, perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.