Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Oklahoma City, OK

14h•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe, effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and contributing to quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and quality goals. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients throughout dialysis treatment; evaluates and cannulates vascular access; obtains vital signs and weights; initiates and discontinues treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; monitors treatment response and machine safety; and reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes accurate treatment documentation, laboratory specimen collection and preparation, infection-control support, equipment cleaning, supply management, and assistance with patient education. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with other staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with transition to a selected modality. The position involves work in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and direct patient care that may include lifting and moving patients.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must hold any applicable state license and complete required education and training.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Able to perform direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation.
Able to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Able to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
Able to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights; perform vascular access evaluations before, during, and after treatment.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine settings, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients' responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and document the interventions and responses.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange transport of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization policies, procedures, training, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe and clean environment.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure appropriate completion or correction of omitted entries.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for admission, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and support infection-control education for patients and families as allowed by state law and under the direction of the CM or designee.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit 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 coordinate services, and help ensure disciplines see patients according to plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit; assist with coordination of transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Assist with supply ordering and inventory for the Transitional Care Unit.