Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Coeur d'Alene, ID

16d

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 environment, following organizational policies and applicable regulations, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and quality goals. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, takes and records pre- and post-treatment measurements, evaluates vascular access, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, monitors machine safety and patient response, and documents treatment information. The position also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining supplies and equipment, supporting infection control, and assisting with patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. In a Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports understanding of home dialysis options, performs treatments on TCU machines, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The work includes desk and computer tasks as well as direct patient care. It requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may require travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings. The health care facility environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials may occur. The position involves frequent prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation. Employees may occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift or lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable 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 will be considered.
Ability to perform the stated physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions.

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 policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations.
Set up and operate hemodialysis machines and perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding (PHT); initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, including prescribed blood and dialysate flow rates.
Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine programming for ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed; ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
Monitor patients’ responses to therapy, conduct machine safety checks, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide prescribed or directed interventions.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, achieve hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, evaluate patients before discharge, and document treatment completion.
Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses in treatment sheets, progress notes where applicable, and designated clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as needed, document, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier 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 business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly work areas; clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities; support the Quality Enhancement Program and process improvement efforts.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and support patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
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 matters for new patients as permitted by state law; liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and support understanding of treatment options and transition to the patient’s modality choice.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with TCU supply ordering and inventory.