Patient Care Technician - PCT - Dialysis

Purpose and Scope

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, in compliance with organization policies and state and federal regulations. Assists in the setup of home dialysis equipment and maintains a safe and clean working environment within the home therapy program.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Reinforces home hemodialysis (HHD) and/or peritoneal dialysis (PD) training as permitted by law
• Identifies and welcomes patients, obtains vital signs and weights, and gathers information for the Clinic Visit Intake form
• Builds and maintains effective communication and collaboration with patients, care partners, the HT RN, 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
• May assist HT RNs with home visits and provides home support as applicable
• Prepares supplies for laboratory testing and prepares specimens for shipping
• Assists with tracking and shipping of transplant-related laboratory specimens and reinforces transplant education
• Disinfects dialysis machines, chairs, tables, and other equipment between patient visits
• Prepares the exam/training room for home dialysis training, treatment, or other visits
• Stocks exam, training, treatment, and storage rooms with supplies
• 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 and may order and track clinic/office supplies
• Participates in medical records, infection control, and other audit processes
• Helps collect required documentation for patient admission and maintains patient charts
• Performs other clerical duties as assigned

Home Hemodialysis

• Reinforces HHD training and education with the HT training RN
• Sets up, tears down, programs, tests, and disinfects the HHD machine
• Troubleshoots HHD equipment and connectivity issues
• Prepares dialysis equipment and supplies for HHD treatment
• Evaluates the dialysis access before treatment and documents findings
• Initiates HHD treatment while monitoring and documenting patient status, vital signs, and machine data
• Performs and documents safety checks during treatment at CMS-designated intervals
• Reports significant changes in patient status to the HT RN
• Provides interventions during treatment per provider/standing orders
• Obtains pre-treatment termination vitals and ensures hemostasis of the dialysis access
• Collects and documents post-treatment vitals and reports to the HT RN
• Assists with quarterly, semi-annual, and annual water and dialysate testing

Peritoneal Dialysis

• Reinforces PD training
• Troubleshoots PD cycler, modem, and connectivity issues
• Performs phlebotomy to obtain prescribed laboratory testing as directed
• Sets up PD cycler and prepares and warms PD solutions
• Assists with exit site care
• May help with tracking of PD equipment

Staff Related

• Participates in the recruitment process for new clinical staff
• Assists with clinical orientation and supports ongoing training of home therapies direct patient care personnel
• May function as a preceptor in home therapy direct patient care training
• Delivers and maintains ongoing competency evaluations/audits for other PCTs
• Collaborates with Clinic Management and Education Coordinator on quality standards and CQI
• Assists in training direct patient care staff on appropriate programs
• Partners with HT RN and IDT staff on environmental integrity and safety
• Participates in implementing creative educational programs for PCT staff
• Partners with IDT members to improve awareness of Home Therapies
• Monitors processes in the delivery of patient care through CQI activities

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

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. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels and may involve exposure to infectious and contagious diseases/materials. The position provides direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation. Frequent, prolonged periods of standing and bending are required. Employees are required to take Ishihara's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment.