Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Overview

As a Clinical and Patient Services Manager at Fresenius Medical Care, you'll oversee the daily operations of outpatient centers, focusing on delivering superior care that enhances the quality of life for patients. Your role involves hiring, developing, and inspiring a multi-disciplinary team, collaborating with physicians, and ensuring high patient outcomes while adhering to regulatory and safety standards.

Job Description

Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) at Fresenius Medical Care support and collaborate with Registered Nurses (RNs) to provide dialysis treatment to multiple patients simultaneously. Key responsibilities include prepping and testing equipment, reviewing treatment sheets, and managing the clinic's operations starting at 4 AM for the first shift. PCTs need a combination of technical skills and genuine passion to build deep relationships with patients and improve their quality of life. Prior direct patient care experience is required for situations where assistance is needed.

Success Profile

To succeed as a PCT, candidates should have prior customer service, healthcare, and direct patient care experience. They should also be passionate about building relationships with patients and their families, and have a genuine interest in the discipline of dialysis.

Rewards

• Opportunities to learn and grow within the dialysis field
• Supportive and collaborative team environment
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Competitive compensation

Connect

For more information about Fresenius Medical Care and how you can contribute to our mission, visit our website or connect with us on social media.

Purpose and Scope

Freshenius Medical Care PCTs function as part of the dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective home dialysis therapy and training for patients under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. They prepare supplies, maintain a clean environment, and support the organization's commitment to Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and CQI Activities.

Principles and Responsibilities

• Reinforces home hemodialysis (HHD) and/or peritoneal dialysis (PD) training as permitted by law
• Identifies and welcomes patients, obtains vital signs, weights, and gathers necessary information
• Builds and maintains strong communication and collaboration processes with patients, care partners, the HT RN, direct and non-direct patient care staff, providers, and other team members
• Obtains treatment records, reviews for completion, and reports missing or abnormal data to the HT RN
• Assists with electronic home treatment/medication/oral nutritional supplement reconciliation and reports missing data/orders to the HT RN
• May assist HT RNs with home visits
• Provides home support as applicable and permissible
• Prepares supplies for laboratory testing, prepares specimens for shipping, and reinforces transplant education
• Completes opening/closing daily chores and documents as appropriate
• Disinfects dialysis machines, chairs, tables, and other equipment in between patient visits, and routinely
• Prepares the exam/training room for home dialysis training, treatment, or other visits
• Schedules patient appointments and contacts patients/caregivers regarding dates, times, and reminders
• Supports patient registration and use of connected health
• Assists patients and care partners with supplies/inventory ordering and management
• Maintains logs and tracking
• May order and track clinic/office supplies, as directed
• Participates in medical records, infection control, and other audit processes as directed
• Actively collaborates with others during staff huddles or meetings
• Helps collect required documentation for patient admission, prepares and maintains the electronic and/or hard-copy patient chart, as directed
• Performs other clerical duties, as assigned (answering phones, faxing, email, provider office contact, etc.)

Home Hemodialysis

• Reinforces HHD training
• Sets up, tears down, programs, tests, and disinfects the HHD machine, as directed
• Troubleshoots HHD machinery/tools and connectivity issues
• Prepares dialysate for use, as directed
• Prepares dialysis supplies for HHD treatment according to standing/provider orders
• Evaluates the dialysis access before treatment, documents all findings in the medical record, and reports abnormal findings to the HT RN
• Initiates HHD treatment, while monitoring and documenting patient status, vital signs, and machine data in the treatment record
• Performs and documents safety checks during treatment at intervals designated by CMS and facility policy
• Reports observed significant changes in patient status during treatment to the HT RN, and documents in the medical record
• Provides interventions during treatment in response to interdialytic events, and documents in the medical record, as directed and permissible
• Obtains pre-treatment termination vitals and documents in the treatment record
• Ensures hemostasis of the patient dialysis access is achieved before leaving the treatment area
• Collects and documents post-treatment vitals in the treatment record and reports to the HT RN
• Assists with quarterly, semi-annual, and annual water and dialysate testing as directed

Peritoneal Dialysis

• Reinforces PD training
• Troubleshoots PD cycler, modem, and connectivity issues
• Performs phlebotomy to obtain prescribed laboratory testing, as directed (must meet state and/or competency requirements to perform)
• Sets up PD cycler and prepares and warms PD solutions, as directed
• Aids in exit site care, as directed
• May help with tracking of PD equipment
• Other duties, as assigned

Staff Related

• Participates in the recruitment process for new clinical staff
• Assists with clinical orientation and supports ongoing training of all appropriate home therapies direct patient care personnel as well as the orientation of all facility staff to the organization
• Partners with all IDT members, including Kidney Care Advocates, administrative staff, and others in developing ideas to improve awareness of Home Therapies for in-center staff and patients

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Requires desk and personal computer work, interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians
• Characteristics of a health care facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels
• May be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases/materials
• Includes frequent, prolonged periods of standing, bending over, pushing and pulling equipment, exerting up to 15 pounds of force, and occasionally lifting and lowering solutions frequently of up to 30 lbs., and on an occasional lift basis up to 40 lbs., as high as 5 feet
• Two-person assist program and "material assist" devices for heavier items

Qualifications

• High School diploma or G.E.D. required
• Must have a valid PCT national certification or state-specific certification as defined by the Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)
• All appropriate state licensure, education, and training (if any) required
• Demonstrated commitment to organization culture, values, and customer service standards
• At least two years of previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility preferred
• Continued employment is dependent on successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program and successful completion of CPR certification

Equal Opportunity Employer

Fresenius Medical Care is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, national origin, age, disability, military service, or other non-merit-based factors