Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Desoto, TX

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities aimed at improving patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and monitoring treatment, responding to treatment issues, documenting care, and reporting significant changes to a nurse or supervisor. It also includes preparing and maintaining dialysis equipment and supplies, collecting and handling laboratory specimens, supporting infection-control practices, and helping train applicable direct-care staff under a nurse’s supervision. In a Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, and supports patient understanding of home dialysis options and products. The work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The setting is a temperature-controlled health care facility with moderate noise and possible exposure to infectious or contagious materials. Direct care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The role requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending, and may involve pushing or pulling equipment and lifting solutions and other items.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Ability to meet the role’s physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, and lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility.

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Provide or reinforce patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, vascular access, infection control, and treatment options as permitted by state law and under appropriate supervision.
Assess vascular access patency, cannulate access, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and other required evaluations, including initial patient identification.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient observation and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, assess and intervene in intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant information or changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, obtain required vital signs before reinfusion, assess patients before termination and discharge, achieve hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Accurately and promptly document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other required information on treatment sheets and in designated clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare and efficiently use supplies and equipment, conduct pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Participate in and document CQI activities and assist with infection-control audits; support adherence to infection-control practices and procedures.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional care.
Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines see the patient according to the care plan.
Support patient understanding of home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics and follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.