Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Toledo, OH

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 technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and outcomes. The PCT supports patients before, during, and after treatment by gathering health information and vital signs, evaluating vascular access, initiating and monitoring dialysis, responding to treatment issues as directed, documenting care, and reporting changes to the registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes preparing and collecting laboratory specimens, performing equipment safety checks and disinfection, supporting infection-control practices, and assisting with training and patient education under appropriate supervision. In a Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate transitional care. Duties include reinforcing education, helping patients understand home dialysis and treatment options, coordinating with staff, performing treatments on unit machines, supporting modality transitions, and assisting with supplies and inventory. The position involves work in a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, business-unit, and corporate meetings may be required. The work includes frequent and prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving patients, and handling dialysis solutions and equipment. Employees may be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services-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 to continue employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification to continue employment.
Ability to perform the position's physical duties, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and handling dialysis solutions and equipment; accommodations may be made as appropriate.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Provide or reinforce patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy, disease processes, vascular access, infection control, home dialysis, and treatment options, as permitted by state law and under appropriate supervision.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, during-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate patients before, during, and after treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow, and program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Monitor patient responses to therapy, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide and document interventions as prescribed or directed.
Perform required treatment discontinuation, reinfusion, hemostasis, dressing, and discharge-evaluation procedures.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled; observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as appropriate, document findings, and report unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Report significant information and changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist in 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, conduct and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
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 and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and follow infection-control policies and procedures.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Coordinate with appropriate staff so patients receive visits from disciplines according to their care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and support coordination of transitions 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.