Patient Care Technician - PCT - training provided

Fresenius Medical Care•Providence, RI

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 clinical environment, documenting treatment, and contributing to quality improvement activities and patient satisfaction. The technician follows organization policies and procedures and applicable state and federal regulations. The PCT welcomes patients, checks their condition and vascular access, obtains and records weights and vital signs, initiates and monitors prescribed dialysis treatments, responds to treatment concerns as directed, and discontinues treatment according to established procedures. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and supplies, following infection-control practices, and assisting with patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, assists patients in understanding treatment options and home dialysis, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The position involves work in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and direct patient care that can include lifting and moving patients.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must meet applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s 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.
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.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, and heavy lifting or moving of patients, with assistance or equipment available as needed.
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 to a height of five feet.
Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility is preferred.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist the health care team in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency; cannulate access and administer heparin when 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, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Enable required safety alarms and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; document interventions and patient responses.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, obtain required vital signs, evaluate patients before termination and discharge, achieve hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, patient evaluations, vital signs, weights, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange for laboratory specimens and requisitions according to requirements.
Clean blood spills and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
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.
Maintain a safe, clean environment and follow organization policies, procedures, business systems, and ethical business practices.
Perform pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure omissions or corrections are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and organize admission paperwork.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and support patient and family education under the direction of the Center Manager or designee as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
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, benefits, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup, and 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.