Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Columbus, OH

15d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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 corporate, state, and federal regulations. Responsibilities include setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with patient care and treatment monitoring, and maintaining a safe and clean working environment. The technician also supports quality improvement and patient satisfaction activities. The position is at an outpatient dialysis clinic in Obetz, Ohio. No prior dialysis experience is required; the employer provides 12 full weeks of paid, comprehensive training. The clinic operates Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the schedule is three 12-hour shifts per week, with no overnight shifts. These are regular full-time positions; temporary and part-time arrangements are not offered. The position includes direct patient care and associated treatment documentation, infection-control practices, laboratory specimen handling, and support for patients new to dialysis. The technician may also help coordinate transitional dialysis care and educate patients and families under the direction of a nurse or designee and as permitted by state law. Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable 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 the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification to continue employment.
Ability to perform the described physical duties, including frequent standing and bending; moving and assisting patients; and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment as specified.
Complete 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 or related facility is preferred; experience in fields such as STNA, phlebotomy, or EMT is a plus.

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Provide patient-specific education on dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and access as appropriate and under applicable supervision.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patient responses and machine safety, identify treatment or access problems, intervene as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, patient evaluations, interventions, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and label specimens, store them according to requirements, and coordinate their collection.
Clean blood spills and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas according to facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently; conduct required pretreatment machine alarm testing and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean environment and follow organization policies, procedures, and ethical business practices.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure required corrections or omissions are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions.
Support infection-control audits and adherence, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families under appropriate direction.
For transitional care patients, follow patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, coordinate care and appointments, reinforce education, and help patients understand home dialysis and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the transitional care unit, assist with demonstrations such as peritoneal dialysis setup, support modality transitions, and assist with transitional care unit supply ordering and inventory.