About this role
The Patient Care Technician (Dialysis), as directed by the primary nurse performs work processes to accomplish organizational goals and positive patient outcomes. These work processes include patient education, comfort/pain management, psycho/social support, wound and skin management, care coordination and diagnostic/interventional procedures. Scope of practice includes patients of all ages.
Responsibilities
A Day in the Life of a Dialysis PT Care Tech at MyMichigan Health:
(25%) Patient Care. Performs interventions to improve patients comfort/pain status: Must be able to cannulate and adjust needles, rapidly respond to Low Blood Pressure with appropriate intervention, Notify Registered Nurse/MD of any new or rise/elevation of pain status. Patients psyche/social needs are evaluated and communicated to the M.S.W./MD: Confers with M.S.W. to improve daily living environment. Identifies areas where financial assistance is needed. Identifies patient with sub-optimal nutritional status to facilitate State assistance, regarding wheels on meals.
(25%) Skin Care and Wounds. Effectively manages skin and wounds. Three weekly assessments of fistula at graft site, as well as, surrounding tissue for signs/symptoms of occlusion, infection, itching, and pain. Report abnormal findings promptly.
(25%) Medications for Dialysis Treatment Under the direction of the Registered Nurse and/or Director, a tech will be allowed to inject Lidocaine into the patient’s access arm in order for the tech to insert a hemodialysis needle for treatment. Heparin can be programmed by a dialysis technician into the dialysis machine for the patient’s dialysis treatment. RN verifies the dialysis machine prior the start of each patient’s treatment. Once the bolus dose and maintenance dose of heparin is verified by the RN, the tech can then give the programmed dose of heparin in order to start the patient’s treatment. Techs are NOT allowed to draw up either medications into the syringes at any time.
(25%) Patient Care Planning. Review recent dialysis treatments concentrating on abnormal areas, such as, clotted access, high/low blood pressures, and substandard quality outcomes. Develop a plan to improve patient outcomes. Collaborates with team members to provide patient centered education regarding Renal Disease, medication, dialysis treatment, etc.
Performs all other related duties as assigned.
MyMichigan Health is a technology driven organization and employees need to demonstrate competency in Microsoft® Windows. An employee may be required to participate in further learning opportunities offered by MyMichigan Health.
Certifications and Licensures
Credential: CHT - Certified Hemodialysis Technician
Required Equivalent Experience - Required within 18 months of hire or transfer.
Required Education
Requirements We Are Looking For:
Required: High School Diploma
Comments: or GED
Other Information
Other Duties and Responsibilities:
EXPERIENCE, TRAINING AND SKILLS
- High School diploma or equivalent required.
- One-year related experience in patient care within the last two years required.
- One-year experience in outpatient hemodialysis within the last 3 to 5 years preferred.
- Must become (certified) within 18 months of being hired as a renal patient care technician.
- Hand/eye coordination and fine motor skills for legible hand-writing, manipulation of special equipment and computer use.
- Ability to maintain positive interaction with patients, significant others and coworkers in order to effectively care for patients.
- Able to transfer up to 125 pounds, with assistance, while lifting, positioning and transferring patients. Physical Demand Level: Heavy. Able to push and pull patients, weighing up to 350 pounds, with assistance, in wheelchairs or carts. Able to stand and walk up to 90% of a 12-hour working day. Able to bend, stoop and squat as required to reach lower drawers, adjust patient lines, etc. Able to reach over head to obtain supplies.
- Able to wear gloves and other protective equipment.
- Clear speech reading and hearing skills are required continuously to communicate with patients and coworkers.
- Has far-sighted visual acuity with correction to 20/40 Snellen chart to identify patients, call lights, provide supervision, etc. Near sighted visual acuity needed to read written material, thermometers, assess patients, monitor equipment, etc.
- Able to remember multiple messages, information, and task assignment for up to 12 hours.
Other Comments
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Other facts
About MyMichigan Health
MyMichigan Health is a partnership of health providers, services and facilities in the heart of Michigan. It is a non-profit, tax-exempt health system affiliated with the University of Michigan Health. As a non-profit, all excess revenues go back into providing care, upgrading services, fairly compensating employees and creating a supportive work environment. The quality of its medical facilities and campuses have been enhanced by the generosity of local foundations and donors.
Serving more than one million residents in a 26-county region, MyMichigan Health acts as a parent organization with various joint ventures and management contracts. In fiscal year 2025, MyMichigan Health provided $243 million in community benefits and other uncompensated care.
MyMichigan also contributes significantly to the health of its local economies. Listed by Forbes among ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ for four consecutive years from 2022 to 2025, as well as named to Forbes’ list of ‘America’s Best Employers for Healthcare Professionals’ in 2025, MyMichigan is a major employer in all the areas it serves with employees having earned $815 million in wages and $147 million in benefits in fiscal year 2025.
Systemwide, MyMichigan has:
• More than 13,200 employees and operational support staff
• More than 2,400 providers credentialed within MyMichigan Health
• Annual gross revenues of approximately $5.1 billion for fiscal year 2025
• Assets valued at $2.4 billion as of June 30, 2025
• 1,123 reportable beds
What you'll do
- The Patient Care Technician performs interventions to improve patient comfort and manages skin and wounds. They also assist in medication administration and collaborate with team members for patient care planning.
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