Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Webster, MA

14d • $18 - $30

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean care environment, and participating in quality improvement and patient-satisfaction initiatives.

The technician assists with patient education and care throughout dialysis treatment, including access assessment and cannulation, vital signs and weights, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring and documenting patient responses, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also involves laboratory specimen collection and preparation, machine safety checks, infection-control practices, documentation, and support for continuous quality improvement.

In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with other staff, helps patients understand home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with modality transitions, supplies, and inventory. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations and involves direct patient care and physical tasks such as standing, bending, lifting, and assisting patients with movement.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Meet 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 continue employment.
• Successfully complete CPR certification to continue employment.
• Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
• Ability to perform direct patient care involving heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation, with assistance from equipment or coworkers as needed.
• Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
• Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
• Ability to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of 5 feet; heavier items may be handled using two-person assistance or material-assist devices.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
• Welcome patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
• Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including patient identification and access evaluations.
• Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow settings.
• Monitor patients during treatment, assess responses, address intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor.
• Perform and document treatment discontinuation activities, including vital signs before reinfusion, standing and sitting blood pressure, hemostasis, dressings, and discharge evaluation.
• Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
• Ensure prescribed safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, interventions, and other patient treatment information in required records and clinical applications.
• Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene when appropriate, and report unusual findings.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
• Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
• Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect the dialysis machine, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
• Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and appropriate signatures, and ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
• Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under the appropriate direction.
• 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 as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and explain treatment options.
• Assist with coordination of the transition to the patient’s chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
• Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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