Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Chehalis, WA

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. The position involves setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean treatment environment, documenting patient care, and participating in quality improvement activities. The technician helps educate patients, monitors their response to treatment, and reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with other staff, helps patients understand home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with modality transitions and supply inventory. Work takes place in a health care facility and includes interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians, as well as travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community. The role involves direct patient care and may expose the employee to infectious or contagious materials. Reasonable accommodations may be considered for employees with disabilities.

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.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Ability to 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 assistance with ambulation.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over; occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, 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 evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow, and calculate and enter machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patients and machine safety during treatment, respond to intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform treatment discontinuation, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, evaluate patients before discharge, and document treatment and patient responses.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as appropriate, and document and report unusual findings.
Complete accurate and timely treatment documentation, including vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment sheets, progress notes when applicable, and clinical application data.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Maintain safe, clean treatment areas; clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare supplies and equipment, perform required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and assist with infection control audits and education under appropriate supervision.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure required nursing signatures are documented, and have omissions corrected by the appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions.
Support newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care with appropriate staff.
Reinforce education for new patients, help them understand home dialysis products and treatment options, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transition to their chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.