Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Hays, KS

13d

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 follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The position provides direct patient care before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments as prescribed, monitoring patients and equipment, recording treatment data, responding to changes in patient condition, and collecting laboratory specimens. The PCT also supports staff training, infection control, continuous quality improvement, and—in transitional care units—new patients’ initial dialysis care and education about treatment options. The work includes computer and desk tasks, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The health care environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise levels, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care involves frequent standing, bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. Equipment or coworkers may assist with heavier items, and material-assist devices are available.

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 will be considered.
Ability to perform frequent, prolonged standing and bending; assist with patient lifting, moving, and ambulation; and push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force on occasion.
Ability to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet; assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.

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 for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required identification and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and perform machine safety checks.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide and document interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; assess patients before termination of venous access and before discharge; obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and other patient-treatment information accurately and promptly; complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes.
Report significant information, patient-condition changes, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, and store specimens according to laboratory requirements; arrange collection by the appropriate courier.
Clean blood spills promptly using 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 business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect the dialysis machine, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) 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, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
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 direction and as permitted by state law.
In a 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 permitted by state law; coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them; explain treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the transitional care unit and help coordinate the transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Assist with transitional care unit supply ordering and inventory.