Patient Care Technician - PCT - Dialysis

Home Therapies Patient Care Technician

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team in providing safe and effective home dialysis therapy and training for patients under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse under organization policies, procedures, and training and in compliance with regulations set forth by the corporation, state, and federal agencies. Assists in the setup of home dialysis equipment and the maintenance of a safe and clean working environment within the home therapy program. Supports the organization's commitment to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and CQI Activities, including those related to patient satisfaction, and actively participates in process improvement activities that enhance the likelihood that patients will achieve the organization's Quality Enhancement Goals (QEP).

All duties and responsibilities of the PCT III HT are to be performed under the direct supervision of the Home Therapies registered nurse (HT RN), in compliance with, and as permissible per state laws, regulations, and policies.

Principal duties and responsibilities (not home assist):

• Reinforces home hemodialysis (HHD) and/or peritoneal dialysis (PD) training as permitted by law.
• Identifies and welcomes patients, obtains vital signs, weights, and gathers information needed to complete the Clinic Visit Intake form.
• Builds and maintains effective communication and collaboration processes and rapport with patients, care partners, the HT RN, direct and non-direct patient care staff, providers, and other team members.
• Obtains treatment records from patients and/or systems, 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 the collection of prescribed laboratory testing and prepares specimens for shipping.
• Assists with the tracking and shipping of transplant-related laboratory specimens 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.
• Stocks exam, training, treatment, and storage rooms with supplies.
• Develops or follows a process for the management of supplies to maximize use and minimize waste.
• 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 and education with the HT training RN.
• Sets up, tears down, programs, tests, and disinfects the HHD machine, as directed.
• Troubleshoots HHD equipment and connectivity issues.

• Prepares dialysis equipment and supplies for HHD treatment, as directed.
• Evaluates the dialysis access before treatment, documents all findings in the medical record, and reports abnormal findings to the HT RN (when applicable, and as directed).
• 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, as required per provider/standing orders, as directed, permissible, and documents the intervention and patient's response.
• 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.
• Other duties, as assigned.

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.
• Assists with exit site care, as directed.
• May help tracking with 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.
• May function as a preceptor in-home therapy direct patient care training, as determined by state-specific guidelines and regulations, to support the delivery of quality patient care as per the standards outlined in the organization's Clinical Services Clinical Training Manual(s), organization policies and procedures, and organization training standards.
• Delivers and maintains ongoing competency evaluations/audits to ensure the ongoing performance of other PCTs.
• Collaborates with Clinic Management and Education Coordinator in driving organization quality standards through education regarding all ESRD regulatory and legal requirements and the practice of Continuous Quality Improvement.
• Assists in training of applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under the supervision of a nurse.
• Provides developmental support to applicable clinical and facility staff.
• Partners with HT RN and IDT staff to educate the appropriate personnel regarding the maintenance of environmental integrity, including patient and staff safety, and of the facility.
• Ensures a strong communication process between Clinical Management, Education Coordinators, direct patient care staff, and all support staff at the facility regarding appropriate training and organizational development programs and initiatives.
• Participates in implementing and potentially designing creative educational programs for PCT staff including contests and other team-based programs.
• Partners with the 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.
• Collaborates with Clinical Management and Education Coordinators in the scheduling and implementation of training programs and processes as directed.
• Monitors processes in the delivery of patient care through regular Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
• Ensures all organizational business policies, procedures, and systems are incorporated into training, including compliance with ethical business practices.

Physical demands and working conditions:

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Employees are required to take Ishihara's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment. Note that: Failing the Ishihara Test for Color Blindness does not preclude employment. The Company will consider whether reasonable accommodations can be made.
• 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.
• The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels. May be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases/materials.