Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Morristown, NJ

8d • $18 - $29

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. The role involves setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. The technician contributes to patient satisfaction and process improvements intended to help patients meet quality goals.

The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including patient assessment, vascular access care, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring, documentation, and reporting changes in patient condition. It also involves laboratory specimen handling, infection-control practices, equipment preparation and disinfection, and support for staff training. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, and supports supplies and inventory.

The role includes desk and computer work, interaction with patients and health care staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The 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. Direct patient care involves frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or moving patients and equipment. The technician may need to lift solutions frequently up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items.

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 remain employed.
• Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
• Take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failure of the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
• Ability to perform the role’s physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient ambulation and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions as described.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Provide patient-specific education, as appropriate, about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
• Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
• Assess vascular access patency; cannulate access and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required access evaluations and patient identification.
• Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow rates, and program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
• Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide prescribed or directed interventions; document interventions and patient responses.
• Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
• Evaluate patients before discharge and report significant information, changes, or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
• Complete accurate and timely treatment documentation, including treatment sheets, vital signs, parameters, and progress notes when applicable.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
• Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
• Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on programs under nurse supervision.
• Maintain safe, clean, and orderly work areas; clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis and perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing; initiate the Solution Delivery System.
• Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
• Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare or print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
• Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and support patient and family education under direction as permitted by state law.
• In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
• Reinforce education and care information for new patients, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transitions 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.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses for bonus-eligible positions, depending on company and individual performance

What This Job Offers

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