Patient Care Technician, PCT

About the Role

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team in providing safe and effective dialysis therapy for patients under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. Responsible for the setup and operation of hemodialysis machines. Assist in the maintenance of a safe and clean working environment. Supports the organization commitment to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and CQI Activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Patient Related Education:
• Assist health care members in providing patient-specific education regarding adequacy measures like Online Clearance Monitoring (OLC), Adequacy Monitoring Program (AMP), Urea Kinetic Modeling (UKM), and disease process/access.
• Treatment:
• Welcome patients and inquire about their well-being.
• Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform vascular access cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or allowed by state law.
• Obtain necessary pre and post-treatment vital signs and weight.
• Perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluation.
• Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders, including blood flow (QB) and dialysate flow (QD).
• Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide intervention as prescribed or directed.
• Monitor patients’ response to dialysis therapy.
• Obtain vital signs prior to reinfusion.
• Perform all relevant functions for the discontinuation of treatment, including documenting.
• Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures.
• Evaluate patient prior to termination of venous access, including standing & sitting blood pressure.
• Obtain Hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
• Evaluate the patient prior to discharge.
• Perform and record pre and post dialysis evaluation, weight, and vital signs with initial identification.
• Calculate and enter individual patients’ dialysis machine programming for Ultrafiltration (UF) goal, treatment time, and UF modeling as prescribed.
• Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
• Record accurate and timely information regarding vital signs and treatment parameters onto the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet with initial identification.
• Accurately document information related to patient treatment, including completion of the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and, if applicable, progress notes.
• Report significant information and/or changes in patient condition directly to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Observe patient and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy. Report any change or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Perform and document any intervention for unusual patient status and document patients' response to intervention.
• Evaluate patients’ vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures. Provide appropriate intervention as needed, document, and report unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection.
• Ensure all blood spills are immediately cleaned with appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
• Prepare, organize, and efficiently utilize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
• Monitors patients performing self-care under the supervision of an RN.
• Staff Related:
• Assists in training of applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under the supervision of a nurse.
• Education/Communication:
• Follows all organization business policies, procedures, and systems incorporated into training, including compliance with ethical business practices.
• Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics – ensure all areas are safe and clean.
• Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surface, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments according to facility policy.
• Conduct all tasks necessary for preparation for dialysis treatment and document where appropriate.
• Perform all required pre-treatment dialysis machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT).
• Initiate Solution Delivery System (SDS) system.
• Record Keeping:
• Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
• Enters all treatment data into the designated clinical application in an accurate and timely manner.
• Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient chart for admission and compile paperwork for appropriate placement in chart.
• Prepare/print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat Lab specimens according to laboratory destination.
• Collect, label, appropriately prepare, and store lab samples according to required laboratory specifications.
• Ensure collection of lab specimens by appropriate lab courier.
• Infection Control:
• Assists in collecting information for infection control audits.
• Supports staff and patient adherence to infection control practices.
• Follows infection control policies and procedures.
• Participates in and reinforces infection control education of patients and families under the direction of the CM or designee.
• Transitional Care Unit:
• Follows all newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinates their transitional dialysis care.
• Reinforces all education and care-related matters for new patients.
• Liaisons with appropriate FKC staff members to provide the best patient experience, including scheduling disciplines to see patients according to plan.
• Assists in assuring patient understanding of home dialysis products, benefits of home, and how home dialysis can work for them.
• Sets and performs a treatment on all machines used in the transitional care unit.
• Assist in assuring patient understanding of treatment options, including demonstration of the peritoneal dialysis set-up.
• Assists with coordination of transition to patient’s modality choice.
• Assists with supply ordering and inventory for TCU.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Work includes desk and personal computer work, and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians.
• Requires travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community. Travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.
• Work environment is characteristic of a health care facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels. May be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases/materials.
• Provides direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assisting with ambulation. Equipment aids and/or coworkers may provide assistance.
• Requires frequent, prolonged periods of standing.
• Must be able to bend over.
• May occasionally be required to push and/or pull equipment, exerting up to 15 pounds of force.
• May be required to lift and lower solutions up to 30 lbs frequently, and up to 40 lbs occasionally, as high as 5 feet. A two-person assist program and "material assist” devices are available for heavier items.
• Employees are required to take the Ishihara's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment. Failing the Ishihara Test for Color Blindness does not preclude employment. Reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• High School diploma or G.E.D. required.
• Must meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
• All appropriate state licensure, education, and training (if any) required.
• Demonstrated commitment to organization culture, values, and customer service standards.

Qualifications

• Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility preferred.
• Continued employment is dependent on successful completion of the organization dialysis training program and successful completion of CPR certification.