Certified Hemodialysis Technician

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Scope of Work : 

The Certified Hemodialysis Technician, under the direction and supervision of the Dialysis Nurse, assists with providing care and delegates activities of treatment to patients with renal failure

Responsibilities and Expectations:

1. Assist with clinical and operational procedures to improve patient health and minimize hospitalizations and missed treatments
2. Demonstrate effective use of business supplies and efficient utilization of scheduled work hours 
3. Obtain blood samples, centrifuge samples, and pack labs as required to complete physician orders
4. Provide patient education as needed under the direction of the Facility Administrator or Dialysis Nurse within scope of practice
5. Perform assigned duties under the supervision of the Dialysis Nurse to meet the patient care and/or operational needs of the facility and within scope of practice in accordance with company policies and procedures, applicable state and federal laws and regulations
6. Follow policies and procedures for personal protective equipment (PPE) use
7. Maintain confidentiality of patient protected health information (PHI)
8. Maintain security of medical records
9. Set up hemodialysis machines according to policies and procedures
10. Respond to visual and audio alarms on machines; troubleshoot machine alarms 
11. Remove disposables and clean station after each treatment following policies and procedures
12. Be familiar with emergency equipment and participate in all emergency operational measures
13. Obtain pre and post treatment weight of patient per policies and procedures
14. Safely initiate and terminate dialysis treatments per prescription while policies and procedures, and within scope of practice as allowed by state regulations
15. Monitor all patients during dialysis treatments at a minimum of every 30 minutes or per policies and procedures with accurate documentation
16. Assist with patient entry and exit within the facility as needed
17. Follow policies and procedures for acid and bicarbonate preparations 
18. Maintain Hemodialysis supplies as needed and assist in keeping supply room clean and organized
19. Maintain workspace and unit common areas to ensure cleanliness and organization
20. Conduct water testing on dialysis machines per policies and procedures. Document quality control logs throughout the day and after all treatments, as required per policies and procedures
21. Report any significant information or change in patient condition to the Dialysis Nurse and take appropriate action
22. Report machine problems to the Biomedical Technician and Facility Administrator
23. Always handle incoming and outgoing calls professionally and courteously, promptly answer calls while identifying oneself and the location
24. Participate in staff meetings as required. Attend in-services and continuing education sessions in compliance with company policies and procedures
25. Participate in team concepts and promote a team environment
26. Perform duties in accordance with company policies and procedures
27. Follow all company policies and procedures
28. Comply with all applicable healthcare regulations, guidelines, and protocols
29. Expected to report to work on scheduled day at scheduled time, working entire shift as per attendance policy
30. All other duties as assigned

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

The physical demands and working conditions described below arise from and are required in the performance of the essential functions of this direct patient-care position. An employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position safely and effectively, with or without reasonable accommodation. National Renal Care will consider and provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.

For purposes of this job description:

• Occasionally means up to one-third of the work shift. 
• Frequently means from one-third to two-thirds of the work shift. 
• Continuously means more than two-thirds of the work shift. 

The frequency and duration of particular activities may vary based on patient census, patient condition, assigned responsibilities, shift length, emergencies, and facility operational needs.

1. Standing and walking: The position requires frequent to continuous standing and walking throughout the work shift, including prolonged periods of standing while providing and monitoring patient care. The employee must regularly move among patient treatment stations, dialysis machines, medication and supply areas, weighing areas, nursing stations, and emergency equipment. Work is not primarily sedentary, and the employee cannot ordinarily perform the position while remaining seated for a substantial portion of the work shift.
2. Bending and stooping: The position requires frequent bending and stooping at the waist to assess and assist patients, observe and access vascular access sites, operate and inspect dialysis equipment, connect and disconnect treatment lines, access supplies, adjust treatment chairs, obtain patient weights, and clean or disinfect patient-care areas and equipment.
3. Squatting, crouching, and kneeling: The position requires occasional squatting, crouching, or kneeling to access patients, equipment, electrical or machine connections, treatment-chair components, supplies stored at lower levels, spills or areas requiring disinfection, and emergency situations. The employee must be able to move into and out of these positions as necessary to perform patient-care and safety functions.
4. Reaching and positional movement: The position requires frequent to continuous reaching at, below, and above shoulder level; twisting and turning of the torso; and movement between standing, walking, bending, crouching, and seated positions. The employee must be able to reach across or around dialysis machines, treatment chairs, patients, work surfaces, and supply storage areas.
5. Lifting and carrying: The position requires frequent lifting and carrying of clinical supplies and patient-care materials and occasional lifting and carrying of heavier supplies, equipment, chemical solutions, or water solutions weighing up to 50 pounds. Items may need to be lifted from floor level to waist level and from waist level to a height of approximately five feet. Appropriate material-handling equipment or coworker assistance must be used when required by NRC safety procedures or when necessary to perform the task safely.
6. Patient assistance and handling: The position requires frequent to continuous hands-on assistance to patients of varying sizes, weights, mobility levels, and physical conditions. This may include assisting with ambulation; positioning and repositioning patients in treatment chairs; helping patients enter or exit treatment chairs, wheelchairs, or other mobility equipment; steadying patients; and responding when a patient loses balance or becomes unable to bear weight. The employee must be able to support and control an appropriate portion of a patient’s weight during an assisted movement, transfer, repositioning, or unexpected loss of balance. Available mobility aids, transfer equipment, and appropriately trained coworkers must be used when indicated by the patient’s condition and NRC safety procedures.
7. Pushing and pulling: The position requires frequent pushing and pulling of lighter clinical equipment, supply carts, and patient-care materials and occasional pushing, pulling, or positioning of wheelchairs, treatment chairs, dialysis machines, and other rolling equipment. The employee may be required, with assistance, to move machines or equipment having a total weight of up to 200 pounds.
8. Emergency response and BLS: The position requires the ability to respond promptly to patient emergencies, falls, changes in condition, blood loss, needle dislodgement, treatment complications, machine alarms, cardiac or respiratory emergencies, and other urgent situations. The employee must be able to move quickly to the patient, access and move emergency equipment, assume the physical position necessary to assess and treat the patient, and perform the physical components of AHA BLS. This includes repeated and sustained chest compressions, ventilation support, use of an automated external defibrillator, and continuation of emergency-response activities until relieved or until the emergency concludes.
9. Upper-extremity and hand use: The position requires frequent to continuous use of the arms, wrists, hands, and fingers, including repetitive gripping, grasping, pinching, pushing, pulling, and fine motor manipulation. These activities are necessary to operate dialysis machines and computers, handle tubing and connectors, manipulate clamps, prepare and administer medications within the employee’s scope of practice, handle needles and syringes, obtain specimens, perform vascular-access procedures, document patient care, and complete cleaning and disinfection procedures.
10. Observation and response: The position requires the ability to perceive and respond promptly to changes in patient condition, treatment-area activity, machine displays, visual and audible alarms, warning indicators, color-coded components, vascular access sites, bloodlines, labels, medication information, treatment orders, and emergency communications, with corrective devices or reasonable accommodation when applicable.
11. Work pace and sustained activity: The position requires sustained physical activity during patient treatment, treatment initiation and termination, station turnover, emergency response, and other periods of increased clinical activity. The employee must be able to perform required patient-care functions within applicable clinical and operational timeframes while maintaining patient safety and infection-control standards.
12. Computer and documentation work: The position includes occasional periods of sitting and frequent use of computers, electronic medical records, telephones, and other office or clinical technology. Computer and documentation work does not eliminate the requirement for frequent physical presence and activity in the patient-care area.
13. Personal protective equipment: The position requires the ability to wear required personal protective equipment for the duration of the assigned activity. Required equipment may include gloves, gowns, masks, eye or face protection, respirators when applicable, and other protective equipment required by infection-control or safety procedures.
14. Exposure and working conditions: The employee works in a healthcare environment and may be exposed to blood, bodily fluids, bloodborne pathogens, infectious or contagious diseases, contaminated materials, sharps, cleaning agents, disinfectants, chemical solutions, and other materials ordinarily present in a dialysis facility. The work environment is generally climate-controlled and may include moderate or intermittently elevated noise levels, equipment alarms, interruptions, and close physical contact with patients and coworkers.
15. Other locations: The position may require travel to training sites or other NRC facilities. When assigned to work at another facility, the employee is expected to perform the same essential functions and satisfy the physical demands and working conditions applicable to the position.

Requirements:

Position Requirements:

1. Must have a valid CHT/CCHT national certification or state specific certification as defined by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Certification must be maintained as current and in good standing
2. Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider certification required upon hire and must be maintained without lapse throughout employment.
3. Confirmation of ability to differentiate primary colors
4. Working knowledge of the English language and ability to communicate in writing as well as verbally
5. Must have basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook); proficiency in all NRC applications required within 30 days of hire 
6. Must successfully complete training program approved by the Medical Director, including demonstrated competency, within 30 days of hire
7. Successful completion of clinical skills checklist within 30 days of hire and annually thereafter
8. Knowledge of medical terminology and procedures related to dialysis
9. Strong organizational and multitasking skills
10. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for effective customer interactions
11. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and remain composed under pressure
12. Attention to detail to ensure accuracy and thoroughness of documentation and correspondences
13. Excellent time management and task prioritization skills