Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Shakopee, MN

12d•Onsite

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 requirements, 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 supports quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and outcomes. No previous dialysis experience is needed; on-the-job training is provided. The technician supports patients before, during, and after dialysis treatment. Duties include evaluating vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, monitoring patients and equipment, documenting treatment information, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, supporting infection-control practices, and maintaining accurate patient and treatment records. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, and supports patients’ understanding of home dialysis options. The position involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, frequent standing and bending, and regular lifting and moving of patients and supplies. The Shakopee clinic is located at 1515 St. Francis Ave, #150, Shakopee, MN 55379. Clinic hours are Monday through Saturday, 5:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m., and the clinic is closed Sunday.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable 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.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Able to meet the described physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient lifting and movement, 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 is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patients’ responses to dialysis and interventions.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and perform and document pre- and post-dialysis assessments, weight, and vital signs with initial identification.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Document vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment information, and progress notes accurately and promptly; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure corrections or omitted entries are completed by appropriate staff.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy; evaluate vascular access during treatment and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and organize and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and promptly.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduling of disciplines according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; 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 for the unit.