Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Mansfield, OH

18h•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 role follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable regulations. It includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient outcomes and satisfaction. The technician welcomes and monitors patients throughout dialysis treatment; checks vascular access, takes and records vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, and responds to treatment issues as directed. The role requires accurate documentation, reporting changes in patient condition, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, and following infection-control and equipment-safety procedures. The technician may also monitor patients performing self-care and assist with staff and patient education under nurse supervision and as permitted by state law. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with supplies and inventory. The clinic operates Monday through Saturday, 4:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.; shifts may begin as early as 3:45 a.m. The schedule is rotating. Extensive 11-week paid training and job-shadow opportunities are provided. The work includes direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, frequent standing and bending, and regular heavy lifting and moving of patients. The environment may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Employees must take the Ishihara color-blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet any applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
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.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Take the Ishihara color-blindness test as a condition of employment.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation; frequent prolonged standing and bending; occasional pushing or pulling up to 15 pounds; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as 5 feet.

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 organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations.
Set up, operate, and perform safety checks on hemodialysis machines, including required pretreatment alarm testing and solution delivery setup.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre- and post-treatment evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; document treatment completion.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate treatment problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant information or changes to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access and arterial and venous pressures during treatment; document and report unusual findings.
Maintain accurate and timely treatment records, clinical application entries, treatment sheets, and progress notes as applicable.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of laboratory specimens according to requirements.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; promptly clean blood spills using appropriate disinfectant.
Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste, and maintain a safe and clean environment.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and assist with infection-control audits, education, and adherence to infection-control practices.
Prepare initial patient charts, organize admission paperwork, review treatment sheets for completeness, and address missing or incorrect entries through appropriate staff.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care with appropriate staff.
Reinforce education for new patients and families, as permitted by state law, including education about home dialysis products, benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup.
Help coordinate care according to the patient’s plan, including scheduling relevant disciplines, supporting the patient’s modality choice, and assisting with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.