Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Prescott Valley, AZ

13d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) is part of a dialysis health care team and provides safe, effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), continuous quality improvement activities, patient satisfaction, and process improvement efforts. The technician assists with patient education and performs dialysis treatment tasks in accordance with prescribed orders, organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations. Duties include assessing vascular access, obtaining and documenting patient measurements and vital signs, initiating and discontinuing treatments, monitoring patient responses, addressing treatment issues as directed, and escalating significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes specimen collection and preparation, treatment documentation, infection-control practices, equipment preparation and disinfection, and participation in quality and infection-control activities. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and transition to the patient’s selected modality, and assists with treatment, demonstrations, supplies, and inventory. The position involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and regular physical activity, including prolonged standing, bending, moving patients, and lifting supplies or solutions.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable 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 perform the physical functions described, including prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and other required evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine settings, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling, as prescribed.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patient responses and vascular access during treatment, intervene as prescribed or directed, document interventions and responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a nurse or supervisor.
Obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge and before termination of venous access.
Record accurate and timely treatment parameters, vital signs, and other patient information in the required treatment sheets, progress notes, and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly surroundings; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and treatment areas between patients.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and participate in patient and family infection-control education under the direction of the CM or designee, as allowed by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to 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.