Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Fredericksburg, VA

7d•$17 - $27•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 organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable state and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean working environment, and participates in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational goals. The position provides direct patient care during dialysis, including assessing vascular access, preparing and monitoring treatments, recording patient measurements and treatment data, responding to patient or machine concerns, and communicating significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, supporting infection-control practices, assisting with staff and patient education, and maintaining accurate clinical records. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, helps patients understand home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with modality transitions, equipment, and supplies. The work takes place in a health care facility and may involve travel between assigned facilities and community locations. It includes regular patient interaction, exposure to infectious materials, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies with assistance or equipment as needed.

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 to continue employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification to continue employment.
Ability to perform the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient lifting and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and supplies as described in the posting.
Ability to 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

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including initial patient identification and pre-treatment vascular access evaluation.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and perform patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Perform treatment reinfusion and discontinuation procedures, assess patients before and after treatment, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, patient assessments, interventions, and responses accurately and promptly; complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, 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 the appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly work areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis equipment and complete required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
Enter treatment data into the designated clinical application and review treatment sheets for completeness, nursing signatures, and appropriate correction of omitted entries.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and support patient and family education under the direction of the Center Manager 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 coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled discipline visits.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate treatment options including peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with coordinating 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.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and attend regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings when required.