Patient Care Technician - PCT

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 the maintenance of 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, weights, and gathers information needed to complete the Clinic Visit Intake form.
• Builds and maintains strong communication and collaboration with patients, care partners, the HT RN, 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 and 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.
• Disinfects dialysis machines, chairs, tables, and other equipment 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.
• 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.
• Helps collect required documentation for patient admission and prepares and maintains the patient chart.
• 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 and prepares dialysis supplies for HHD treatment according to standing/provider orders.
• Evaluates the dialysis access before treatment, documents findings, and reports abnormal findings to the HT RN.
• Initiates HHD treatment while monitoring and documenting patient status, vital signs, and machine data.
• 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 directed and permissible.
• Obtains pre-treatment termination vitals and ensures hemostasis of the dialysis access before leaving the treatment area.
• Collects and documents post-treatment vitals 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).
• Sets up PD cycler and prepares and warms PD solutions as directed.
• Assists with exit site care as directed.
• May help with tracking of PD equipment.

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. May be exposed 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. Requires frequent, prolonged periods of standing and the ability to bend over. May occasionally push and/or pull equipment exerting up to 15 pounds of force, and lift and lower solutions frequently of up to 30 lbs., and on an occasional basis up to 40 lbs. Employees are required to take Ishihara's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment.