Patient Care Technician- PCT- Training Provided

Fresenius Medical Care•Sellersville, PA

10d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician functions as part of a dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean environment, and participating in quality enhancement and continuous improvement activities. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, obtains vital signs and weights, evaluates vascular access, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders, monitors treatment response, and documents care accurately. The role also supports patient education, laboratory collection and handling, infection control, equipment preparation and disinfection, and training of applicable direct-care staff under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports understanding of treatment options and home dialysis, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The position's initial schedule is 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM, with shift times potentially changing to 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM as operational needs require.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet any applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assistance with ambulation, with equipment or coworker assistance available.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with prescribed orders, organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and complete pre- and post-dialysis evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed parameters and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients' responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, perform prescribed interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Monitor vascular access and treatment pressures, provide appropriate interventions, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment to avoid wastage; perform required machine alarm testing and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments, and promptly clean blood spills using appropriate disinfectant.
Maintain a safe and clean environment and support infection-control practices, audits, and patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure required nursing signatures, and arrange correction of omitted entries by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare laboratory requisitions for prescribed or urgent specimens.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient-care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow new patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care with appropriate staff.
Reinforce education for new patients, support their understanding of home dialysis products and treatment options, and assist with transition to their chosen modality, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and attend regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings when required.