Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Morehead City, NC

12d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works 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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean treatment environment, and following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and help patients achieve quality goals. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients throughout dialysis treatment, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated or legally permitted heparin administration, obtains vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues treatment according to prescribed orders, monitors patient responses, and documents treatment information. The technician reports changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor, collects and prepares laboratory specimens, conducts machine safety checks, and maintains equipment and treatment areas according to facility and infection-control procedures. The role also supports staff training under nurse supervision, completes clinical records and quality-improvement documentation, and assists with infection-control audits and education. In a Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patient understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, assists with modality transitions, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The job involves direct patient care, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. Work includes desk and computer tasks and interaction with patients, staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

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; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
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 regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assistance with ambulation, with equipment or coworker assistance available.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using 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.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, training, and regulations.
Set up and operate hemodialysis machines and complete required machine preparation, alarm testing, and solution delivery system tasks.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and required patient evaluations.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis according to prescribed orders and established procedures, including calculating and entering machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, assess vascular access and treatment pressures, identify problems or unusual findings, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Enable appropriate safety alarms, perform machine safety checks, and document treatment parameters and interventions accurately and promptly.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange appropriate courier pickup for specimens.
Clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; promptly clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant.
Prepare, organize, and efficiently use supplies and equipment 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 organizational business policies, procedures, ethical practices, and infection-control policies; support infection-control adherence, audits, and education as directed.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and appropriate signatures, follow up on omitted entries for correction by appropriate staff, prepare initial patient charts, and prepare lab requisitions.
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 as allowed by state law, coordinate with facility staff to support the patient experience, and help patients understand home dialysis and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, assist with modality transitions, and help coordinate supply ordering and inventory.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly treatment environment.