Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Grove City, OH

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. Sets up and operates hemodialysis machines and helps maintain a safe, clean working environment. Supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvement. Provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including patient preparation and assessment, vascular access evaluation and cannulation, treatment initiation and monitoring, response to intradialytic problems, treatment discontinuation, hemostasis, discharge assessment, and accurate documentation. Reports significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor. Collects and prepares laboratory specimens, supports infection-control practices, and monitors patients performing self-care under RN supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, supports understanding of treatment options and home dialysis, assists with modality transitions, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The role includes desk and computer work, interaction with patients and care-team members, and travel between assigned facilities and other community locations. The health care facility environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious materials may occur. Direct patient care involves frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation. The employee may occasionally push or pull equipment and frequently lift or lower solutions. Ishihara color-vision testing is required as a condition of employment; a failed result does not automatically 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.
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; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Pass the Ishihara color-vision test as a condition of employment, although failing the test does not automatically preclude employment and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the position's physical requirements, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and 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-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess the patient before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, evaluations, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment records and clinical applications.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, perform machine safety checks, and conduct required pre-treatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing.
Report significant changes in patient condition and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, and document and report findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient-care staff on appropriate 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 the Solution Delivery System and complete tasks necessary to prepare for dialysis treatment.
Participate in and document CQI activities; 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 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 reinforce patient and family education as directed and permitted by law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient's selected modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.