Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care is hiring a Patient Care Technician/Dialysis Technician Trainee for an outpatient dialysis clinic in Grove City. No prior dialysis experience is required. The organization provides 12 weeks of paid, comprehensive training to help you build a rewarding career in dialysis care. Patient care experience in other fields such as STNA, Phlebotomist, or EMT is a plus.

Clinical Setting

You will work as part of the dialysis healthcare team in an outpatient clinic setting, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy for patients under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The work environment is characteristic of a healthcare facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels. You may be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases and materials.

Schedule

These are full-time positions with early morning start times as early as 5 am. Technicians work four 10-hour shifts per week with every other Saturday off. There are no overnight shifts, and clinics are closed on Sundays. Work schedules are communicated in advance, although requests for specific set or recurring days each week cannot be accommodated. You must be available to be scheduled Monday through Saturday. Temporary or summer positions are not available.

Responsibilities

Patient Care and Treatment:

• Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment
• Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform vascular access cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or as allowed by state law
• Obtain necessary pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight and perform vascular access evaluation pre-treatment
• Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders including blood flow (QB) and dialysate flow (QD)
• Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide intervention as prescribed by physician order or as directed
• Monitor patients' response to dialysis therapy
• Obtain vital signs prior to reinfusion and perform all relevant functions necessary for discontinuation of treatment
• Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures and evaluate patient prior to termination of venous access
• 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
• Document information related to patient treatment including completion of Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and, if applicable, progress notes
• Report any significant information and/or change in patient condition directly to the registered nurse or supervisor
• Observe patient and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy and report any change or unusual findings
• 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 and provide appropriate intervention as needed
• Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection
• Ensure that all blood spills are immediately cleaned with appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy
• Prepare, organize, and efficiently utilize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage
• Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of RN

Patient Education:

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

Transitional Care Unit:

• Follow all newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care
• Reinforce all education and care-related matters as it relates to the new patient as allowed by state law
• Liaison with appropriate staff members to provide the best patient experience
• Assist in assuring patient understanding of home dialysis products, benefits of home dialysis, and how home dialysis can work for them
• Set up and perform a treatment on all machines used in the transitional care unit
• Assist in assuring patient understanding of treatment options including demonstration of peritoneal dialysis setup
• Assist with coordination of transition to patient's modality choice
• Assist with supply ordering and inventory for TCU

Environmental and Infection Control:

• Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics and 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 pretreatment dialysis machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT)
• Initiate Solution Delivery System (SDS) system
• Assist in collecting information for infection control audits
• Support staff and patient adherence to infection control practices
• Follow infection control policies and procedures
• Participate in and reinforce infection control education of patients and families under the direction of the care manager or designee as allowed by state law

Record Keeping and Documentation:

• Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities
• Enter 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

Staff and Training:

• Assist in training of applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under the supervision of a nurse
• Follow all organization business policies, procedures, and systems incorporated into training, including compliance with ethical business practices

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The position 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. The position requires frequent, prolonged periods of standing and the ability to bend over. You may occasionally be required to push and/or 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 lbs., and on an occasional lift basis up to 40 lbs., as high as 5 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's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment. Failing the Ishihara Test for Color Blindness does not preclude employment. The organization will consider whether reasonable accommodations can be made.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or G.E.D.
• 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
• CPR certification (must be successfully completed as a condition of continued employment)
• Successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program (must be successfully completed as a condition of continued employment)
• Demonstrated commitment to organization culture, values, and customer service standards

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility
• Patient care experience in fields such as STNA, Phlebotomist, or EMT

Additional Requirements

Fresenius Medical Care maintains a drug-free workplace in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.