Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Memphis, TN

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 PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvement. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including checking patient wellbeing and vascular access, taking and recording vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing prescribed treatments, monitoring patient responses, addressing problems as directed, documenting treatment details, collecting laboratory specimens, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT also performs machine and safety checks, cleans equipment and work areas, follows infection-control procedures, and helps prepare supplies and treatment areas. Where assigned to a Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis. Duties include reinforcing education, coordinating care and appointments with facility staff, helping patients understand home dialysis and treatment options, setting up and performing treatments on TCU machines, and assisting with transition to the patient’s chosen modality. The work includes desk and computer tasks as well as interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, prolonged standing, and bending. The role may also involve pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lifting or lowering solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. A two-person assist program and material-assist devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered. A high school diploma or GED is required. The employee must meet applicable CMS-approved state or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline and hold any state licensure, education, or training required for the role. Continued employment depends on successfully completing the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification. Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility is preferred.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational 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.
Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility is preferred.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.
Ability to perform the described physical duties, including prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, the disease process, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency and perform cannulation and heparin administration when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required initial identification and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms, including Narrow Venous Limits, are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and perform and document pre- and post-dialysis evaluations.
Record accurate, timely treatment parameters and patient information on treatment sheets and in the designated clinical application; complete applicable progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy; document interventions and patient responses.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, intervene as appropriate, document, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange appropriate courier collection of specimens.
Clean blood spills immediately with the appropriate disinfectant and follow facility policy.
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 organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as appropriate, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
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 for placement in the chart.
Prepare or print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
In the Transitional Care Unit, reinforce education and care information, coordinate with facility staff to ensure disciplines see patients according to the care plan, and support patient understanding of home dialysis products, benefits, and options.
In the Transitional Care Unit, set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as applicable, assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality, and help coordinate supply ordering and inventory.