Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Big Rapids, MI

11d

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 organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities, including initiatives related to patient satisfaction and patient outcomes. The PCT assists with patient education and care before, during, and after dialysis. Duties include assessing vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, monitoring patients and machine safety, recording treatment information, responding to unusual findings, collecting laboratory specimens, and maintaining accurate clinical documentation. The technician also supports infection control, staff training, and, in a Transitional Care Unit, the coordination and education of newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis and their transition to a chosen treatment modality. The position involves patient interaction and direct care in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. Work includes desk and computer tasks as well as frequent standing, bending, and patient handling. The employee may be exposed to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities; an Ishihara color blindness test is required as a condition of employment, and failing it does not automatically preclude employment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Hold any state licensure and complete any education and training required for the role.
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 automatically preclude employment.
Ability to perform the physical functions described, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; patient handling and ambulation assistance; and frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices or coworkers may be used for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

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 prior treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, perform vascular access evaluations, and document patient identification.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, and program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling as prescribed.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide prescribed or directed interventions.
Perform pre- and post-dialysis evaluations and the procedures needed to discontinue treatment, including obtaining vital signs before reinfusion, assessing the patient before termination of venous access, achieving hemostasis, and applying dressings.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, observe patients, conduct machine safety checks, and report changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, patient evaluations, interventions, responses, and other treatment information accurately and promptly, including treatment sheets and applicable progress notes.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and report and document unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
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 organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain safe and clean areas; and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis, perform and document required pretreatment 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; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on omitted entries or corrections by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare or print laboratory requisitions, and ensure laboratory samples are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection control audits, reinforce adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control policies and procedures, and participate in patient and family infection-control 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 care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines see patients according to plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit; assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality; and support supply ordering and inventory.