Patient Care Technician - PCT - Dialysis Preceptor

Fresenius Medical Care is seeking a Patient Care Technician (PCT) - Dialysis Preceptor to join our dialysis healthcare team. This full-time position is based at Brandywine Clinics with area float responsibilities, requiring willingness to work between multiple clinic locations. You will function as part of the dialysis team providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, while also serving as a preceptor and mentor to other clinical staff.

Clinical Setting

You will work in a dialysis facility environment with air temperature control and moderate noise levels. The position involves direct patient care in a healthcare setting with potential exposure to infectious and contagious diseases and materials.

Primary Responsibilities

Patient Care and Treatment

• Welcome assigned patients and assess their wellbeing since their last treatment
• Evaluate vascular access for patency and perform vascular access cannulation
• Administer heparin as delegated or as allowed by state law
• Obtain pre- and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and vascular access evaluations
• Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders, including blood flow (QB) and dialysate flow (QD) settings
• Evaluate and provide intervention for intradialytic problems as prescribed by physician order or as directed by nursing staff
• Monitor patients' response to dialysis therapy
• Obtain vital signs prior to reinfusion and perform all functions necessary for treatment discontinuation
• Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures, including standing and sitting blood pressure evaluation
• Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings
• Calculate and enter individual patients' dialysis machine programming for ultrafiltration (UF) goals, treatment time, and UF modeling
• Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160
• Record accurate and timely vital signs and treatment parameters on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet with initial identification
• Complete accurate documentation of patient treatment information including Hemodialysis Treatment Sheets and progress notes as applicable
• Report significant information and changes in patient condition directly to the registered nurse or supervisor
• Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy
• Perform and document interventions for unusual patient status
• Evaluate patients' vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures, and report unusual findings
• Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection
• Ensure all blood spills are immediately cleaned with appropriate disinfectants according to facility policy
• Prepare, organize, and efficiently utilize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage
• Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision and assist as applicable

Patient Education

• Assist healthcare team members in providing patient-specific education regarding adequacy measures including Online Clearance Monitoring (OLC), Adequacy Monitoring Program (AMP), and Urea Kinetic Modeling (UKM)
• Educate patients regarding disease process and vascular access

Transitional Care Unit

• Follow all newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care
• Reinforce all education and care-related matters for new patients as allowed by state law
• Liaison with appropriate staff members to provide the best patient experience and ensure all disciplines are scheduled according to plan
• Assist in assuring patient understanding of home dialysis products, benefits, and options
• Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the transitional care unit
• Assist in demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup and treatment options
• Assist with coordination of transition to patient's modality choice
• Assist with supply ordering and inventory for the transitional care unit

Preceptor and Staff Training Responsibilities

• Participate in the recruitment process for new clinical staff
• Assist with clinical orientation and ongoing training of direct patient care personnel and facility staff
• Function as a preceptor in direct patient care training as determined by state-specific guidelines and regulations
• Deliver and maintain ongoing competency evaluations and audits to ensure ongoing performance of other PCTs
• Collaborate with the Clinical Manager and Education Coordinator in driving organizational quality standards through education regarding ESRD regulatory and legal requirements and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
• Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nursing supervision
• Provide developmental support to applicable clinical and facility staff
• Participate in implementing and potentially designing creative educational programs for PCT staff
• Collaborate with Clinical Managers and Education Coordinators in scheduling and implementing training programs

Education and Communication

• Partner with RN and interdisciplinary team staff to educate personnel regarding facility water system integrity and safety as allowed by local regulations
• Partner with RN and interdisciplinary team staff to educate personnel regarding environmental integrity, including patient and staff safety
• Ensure strong communication between Clinical Managers, Education Coordinators, direct patient care staff, and support staff regarding training and organizational development programs
• Monitor processes in patient care delivery through regular CQI activities
• Ensure all organizational business policies, procedures, and systems are incorporated into training, including compliance with ethical business practices

Infection Control

• Assist with facility quality assurance and infection control audits
• Act as a change agent for infection control practices within the clinic
• Monitor staff and patient adherence to infection control practices under Clinical Manager direction
• Reinforce new hire employee adherence to infection control policies and procedures
• Support ongoing staff and patient engagement on infection control practices
• Reinforce patient and staff adherence to infection control policies and procedures quarterly through visual media such as posters, flyers, or bulletin boards
• Participate in education response to internal and external facility surveys
• Participate in and reinforce infection control education of patients and families as allowed by state law

Maintenance and Technical

• Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics; ensure all areas are safe and clean
• Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy
• Conduct all tasks necessary for preparation for dialysis treatment
• Perform all required pretreatment dialysis machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT)
• Initiate Solution Delivery System (SDS)

Record Keeping

• Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities
• Enter all treatment data into the designated clinical application in an accurate and timely manner
• Review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure nursing signatures are documented
• Ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff
• Prepare initial patient charts for admission and compile paperwork for appropriate chart placement
• Prepare and print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat lab specimens
• Collect, label, appropriately prepare, and store lab samples according to laboratory specifications
• Ensure collection of lab specimens by appropriate lab courier

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

This position requires frequent, prolonged periods of standing and the ability to bend over. You will regularly perform heavy lifting and moving of patients and assist with ambulation. Equipment aids and coworkers may provide assistance. You may occasionally be required to push and pull equipment, exerting up to 15 pounds of force. You may be required to lift and lower solutions on a frequent basis of up to 30 pounds and on an occasional basis up to 40 pounds, as high as five feet. A two-person assist program and material assist devices are available for heavier items.

Day-to-day work includes desk and personal computer work and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community. Travel to regional, business unit, and corporate meetings may be required.

Employees are required to take the Ishihara Color Blindness Test as a condition of employment. Failing the test does not preclude employment; the company will consider whether reasonable accommodation can be made.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Active CCHT (Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician) or CHT (Certified Hemodialysis Technician) certification as defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
• Minimum two years of dialysis experience
• Valid CPR certification
• All appropriate state licensure, education, and training as required
• Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards
• Attendance and active participation in all applicable preceptor training programs as established by education leadership
• Successful completion of the organizational dialysis training program

Preferred Qualifications

• At least five years of patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility
• Attendance at Fresenius and publicly offered skill-based training as assigned by Clinical Manager

Schedule

Full-time position with area float responsibilities requiring willingness to work between multiple Brandywine Clinic locations.