Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Saginaw, MI

10d

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 involves setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with patient care and education, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and complying with organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement activities, including initiatives related to patient satisfaction and quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments, monitoring patient response, recording treatment data, reporting changes to a registered nurse or supervisor, and collecting laboratory specimens. The PCT also assists with staff training, infection control, equipment preparation and disinfection, and record keeping. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with other staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, and supports transition to the patient’s chosen modality. The work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The environment is characteristic of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials may occur. Direct care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. Frequent, prolonged standing and bending are required; the role may also involve pushing or pulling equipment and lifting solutions and other items.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
All appropriate state licensure, education, and training required for the position.
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 regular heavy lifting and moving of 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.
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.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; 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

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling, and ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to therapy, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and document patient responses.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge and before termination of venous access.
Record accurate and timely treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and other required information in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Conduct patient observation and machine safety checks according to facility policy, including monitoring vascular access pressures during treatment.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange pickup of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
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 and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required pretreatment machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and support accurate chart preparation and laboratory requisitions.
Assist with infection control audits, follow infection control policies and procedures, reinforce adherence, and support 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, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure visits are scheduled according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.