Patient Care Technician-PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Circleville, OH

13d

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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with patient education and care, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and complying with organizational policies and applicable regulations. The PCT contributes to Quality Enhancement Program and Continuous Quality Improvement activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.

The position performs and documents pre-, intra-, and post-treatment patient assessments and dialysis procedures; monitors patient responses and vascular access; reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor; and collects and prepares laboratory specimens. The technician also supports infection control, staff training, supply management, and transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients, including education and coordination around treatment options and home dialysis.

The role involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious materials. Paid dialysis training is provided. The schedule listed is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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 as a condition of continued employment.
• Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.
• Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
• Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and assisting with patient lifting, moving, and ambulation.
• Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with 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, with assistance or devices available for heavier items.
• Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Assist other health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
• Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
• Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, and perform vascular access evaluations.
• Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
• Program dialysis machines for prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment times, and modeling, and ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
• Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a nurse or supervisor.
• Monitor vascular access and treatment pressures, intervene as appropriate, document findings, and report abnormalities.
• Complete accurate and timely treatment documentation, including treatment sheets, progress notes when applicable, and clinical application entries.
• Conduct machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of laboratory specimens.
• Clean blood spills promptly and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
• Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
• Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment and follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
• Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and help ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient charts, organize admission paperwork, and prepare laboratory requisitions.
• Assist with infection control audits, reinforce infection control practices, and support patient and family education under the direction of the care manager or designee as allowed by state law.
• Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
• Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
• Reinforce education for new patients, support understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.

Benefits

• Paid dialysis training.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Competitive pay and benefits, including eligibility for healthcare benefits 30 days after the hire date.
• Generous PTO and ESL leave accrual.
• 401(k) retirement benefits with employer match.
• Perks and discount programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED