Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Cheyenne, WY

4d•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. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with patient care and treatment documentation, and maintaining a safe, clean environment in accordance with organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position provides direct patient care, including monitoring patients before, during, and after dialysis; evaluating vascular access; initiating and discontinuing treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; documenting treatment parameters and patient responses; and promptly reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT also collects and prepares laboratory specimens, supports infection-control practices, and maintains treatment equipment and supplies. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT helps coordinate newly admitted patients’ first four weeks of dialysis care, reinforces education under applicable supervision and state law, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with modality transitions, equipment, supplies, and inventory. The work involves travel between assigned facilities and community locations and may include travel to regional, Business Unit, or corporate meetings. The healthcare work environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious materials. The role involves frequent standing and bending, patient lifting and movement, and handling solutions and equipment. Reasonable accommodations may be considered for qualified employees. An Ishihara color blindness test is required as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must hold any applicable state licensure and meet required education and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and handling solutions weighing up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally; reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Must 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 is preferred.

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 their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; evaluate patients before termination and discharge; obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment evaluations, weights, vital signs, treatment parameters, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled, conduct patient observation and machine safety checks, and evaluate vascular access pressures during treatment; report unusual findings or changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with 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, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe and clean environment.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document preparation as appropriate, perform required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and promptly.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork; prepare or print laboratory requisitions; and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as allowed by state law, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and corporate meetings may be required.