Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Louisville, KY

29d

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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, helping maintain a safe and clean environment, following organizational policies and regulatory requirements, and participating in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients during dialysis, obtains and documents vital signs and weights, evaluates vascular access, initiates and discontinues treatments according to prescribed orders and procedures, and responds to treatment issues as directed. The role also involves machine safety checks and programming, documentation, specimen collection, infection-control practices, equipment cleaning, and support for patient education and self-care under nursing supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with relevant staff, helps patients understand home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with modality transitions, supplies, and inventory. The position involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and frequent standing, bending, lifting, and moving patients or equipment. Employment requires completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification; state or CMS-approved certification requirements must be met within the applicable timeline.

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.
Demonstrated 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 direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving patients, and assisting with 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.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.
Take 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 setting or related facility.

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assist with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and permitted by state law.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including patient identification and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
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, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate the patient before discharge.
Accurately and promptly document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other required information in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Clean blood spills promptly using 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 appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, conduct required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure laboratory specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow related policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education as directed.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients, coordinate with relevant staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure appointments with disciplines are scheduled according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate.
Assist with coordinating transitions to patients’ chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.