Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Lake Charles, LA

12d

About The Position

Functions 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 follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The Patient Care Technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including patient assessment, vascular access care, treatment setup and monitoring, documentation, specimen collection, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also supports infection control, staff training, and transitional care for newly admitted dialysis patients, including education and coordination related to treatment options and home dialysis. The work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The setting is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials may occur. Direct patient care involves frequent standing, bending, and assisting with patient lifting and movement. The employee may need to lift solutions weighing up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally, as high as five feet; assistance devices and coworkers are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment, though failure does not automatically preclude employment and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-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 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.
Ability to perform the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient ambulation and movement, and lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and 40 pounds occasionally.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility.

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and evaluate access before and during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and evaluations, including standing and sitting blood pressure when applicable.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform treatment reinfusion and discontinuation procedures, assess patients before discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills 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 with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and infection control procedures; support patient and staff adherence to infection control practices.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly work areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required pretreatment machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding Test, initiate the Solution Delivery System, and document as appropriate.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with infection control audits and reinforce infection control education for patients and families under the direction of the care manager or designee, as permitted by state law.
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 facility staff to coordinate services, and help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, help coordinate patients’ modality transitions, and assist with TCU supply ordering and inventory.