Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Charlotte, NC

13d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports quality improvement and patient satisfaction initiatives. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including preparing and monitoring patients, operating dialysis equipment, documenting treatment information, responding to patient needs, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also involves laboratory specimen collection and preparation, infection-control activities, equipment cleaning, and support for patient education and staff training. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and helps coordinate transitions to a selected modality. The role includes travel between assigned facilities and community locations and may require travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings. Work takes place in a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials.

Requirements

High school diploma or G.E.D.
Meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services-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 organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program as a condition of continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.
Pass 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.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; assistance devices and two-person assistance are available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Set up and operate hemodialysis machines and initiate treatments according to prescribed orders.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor vascular access pressures during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, evaluations, and treatment parameters.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling, and ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, identify intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Discontinue treatments according to established procedures, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Document treatment information accurately and promptly, including treatment sheets, progress notes when applicable, interventions, and patient responses.
Conduct machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; promptly clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of a registered nurse.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe and clean environment and follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and infection-control requirements.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities and assist with infection-control audits and education.
Prepare initial patient charts, compile admission paperwork, review treatment sheets for completeness, and ensure missing or incorrect entries are addressed by appropriate staff.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with demonstrations of peritoneal dialysis setup, and help coordinate transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with supply ordering and inventory for the Transitional Care Unit.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and travel to meetings when required.