Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Upper Tumon, GU

5d•Onsite

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, following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and quality goals. The technician supports patients throughout dialysis treatment, including taking and recording vital signs and weights, assessing and cannulating vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders, monitoring patient response, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes treatment documentation, laboratory specimen collection and preparation, machine safety checks, infection-control practices, and cleaning and disinfection between treatments. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports patient understanding of home dialysis options, and assists with supplies and inventory. The work involves direct patient care, frequent standing and bending, and regular lifting and moving of patients and equipment. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and corporate meetings may also be required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet any 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 depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends 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 that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
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 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

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since the previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, during-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including evaluations before treatment and before discharge.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and perform required machine safety checks and pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing.
Monitor patients’ response to treatment, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed interventions, document responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Complete accurate and timely treatment records, including treatment sheets, progress notes when applicable, clinical application entries, and required corrections or follow-up on omitted entries.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange appropriate courier collection of specimens; and prepare lab requisitions.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; promptly clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant.
Maintain a safe and clean environment and support patient and staff adherence to infection-control practices.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and infection-control audits, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families under appropriate direction.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on programs under nurse supervision.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Prepare initial patient charts and organize admission paperwork.
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, and liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
Support patient understanding of home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordinating the transition to the patient’s chosen modality, setting up and performing treatments on TCU machines, and managing TCU supplies and inventory.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and customer service standards.