Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•East Hartford, CT

8d•$17 - $27•Onsite

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 position includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and participating in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, performs vascular access and dialysis treatment tasks within the applicable delegation and legal scope, records treatment information, responds to patient status changes, and collects and prepares laboratory specimens. The role also supports infection control, staff training, and transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients, including education about treatment and home dialysis options. The work involves direct patient care in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and frequent standing, bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. The stated schedule includes no Sundays and three workdays per week after training is complete.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required 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 as a condition of continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient assistance and lifting; accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and under applicable supervision.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate 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 evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, assess and address intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, including relevant standing and sitting blood pressure checks, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings after treatment.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, interventions, patient responses, and other treatment information in required records and clinical applications.
Perform machine safety checks and monitor vascular access pressures during treatment; document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using the appropriate disinfectant and prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
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; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis treatments, document required preparation, perform pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and follow organization policies, procedures, business systems, and ethical business practices.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and appropriate signatures, and ensure omissions are completed or corrected by the appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for admission and prepare or print laboratory requisitions as needed.
Assist with infection control audits, reinforce infection control practices, and support infection control education for patients and families under appropriate direction.
For the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care and related education.
Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the plan of care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; 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 its supply ordering and inventory.