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 in accordance with organization policies, procedures, and training and in compliance with regulations set forth by the corporation, state, and federal agencies.

Responsibilities

• Setup and operation of hemodialysis machines.
• Assist in maintaining a safe and clean working environment.
• Support the organization’s commitment to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including those related to patient satisfaction and process improvement.

Patient Care and Treatment

• Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
• Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or allowed by state law.
• Obtain pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight; 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 or directed.
• Monitor patients’ response to dialysis therapy; obtain vital signs prior to reinfusion.
• Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures; 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 progress notes as applicable.
• Report any significant information or change in patient condition directly to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy; report any changes or unusual findings.
• Perform and document interventions 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.
• Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection.
• Ensure immediate cleaning of all blood spills 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 an RN.

Staff Support and Education

• Assist in training 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.
• 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 and document where appropriate.
• Perform all required pretreatment 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.
• 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 omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient chart for admission and compile paperwork for appropriate placement in chart.
• Prepare and print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat lab specimens according to laboratory destination.
• Collect, label, prepare, and store lab samples according to required laboratory specifications.
• Ensure collection of lab specimens by appropriate lab courier.

Infection Control

• 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 Clinical Manager or designee as allowed by state law.

Transitional Care Unit

• Follow newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
• Reinforce all education and care-related matters as they relate to the new patient as allowed by state law.
• Liaise with appropriate staff members to ensure all disciplines are scheduled to see the patient according to plan.
• Assist in assuring patient understanding of home dialysis products, benefits of home dialysis, and how it can work for them.
• Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the transitional care unit.
• Assist in assuring patient understanding of treatment options, including demonstration of peritoneal dialysis set-up.
• Assist with coordination of transition to patient’s modality choice.
• Assist with supply ordering and inventory for the Transitional Care Unit.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Day-to-day work includes desk and personal computer work and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians.
• Position 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 healthcare facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels.
• Exposure to infectious and contagious diseases/materials is possible.
• Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation; equipment aids and/or coworkers may provide assistance.
• Frequent, prolonged periods of standing; ability to bend over is required.
• Occasionally required to push and/or pull equipment, exerting up to 15 pounds of force.
• Frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 lbs.; occasional lifting up to 40 lbs. as high as 5 feet; two-person assist program and material assist devices are available for heavier items.
• Employees are required to take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment if reasonable accommodations can be made.

Education and Licenses

• 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.

Experience and Required Skills

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