Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Brainerd, MN

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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 is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality improvement and patient-satisfaction initiatives. No dialysis-specific experience is required; fully paid on-the-job training is provided.

The technician supports patients throughout dialysis treatments, including preparation, monitoring, documentation, and discharge. Duties also include collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining infection-control practices, and assisting with patient education. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician helps coordinate care for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education about treatment and home dialysis options, and supports transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.

The position is based at the clinic at 2024 South 6th St., Brainerd, MN 56401. Work includes interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians; travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required, and travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Physical duties include frequent prolonged standing, bending, and regularly lifting or moving patients and supplies; lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally is required. Equipment or coworkers may assist with heavier items, and reasonable accommodations may be considered. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment, though failing the test 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.
• Meet any 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 remain employed.
• Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
• Ability to perform direct patient-care duties involving frequent, prolonged standing and bending, and regular heavy lifting or moving of patients and assistance with ambulation.
• Ability to lift solutions frequently up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds, including lifting them as high as five feet; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment requiring up to 15 pounds of force.
• 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.
• Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

• Previous patient-care experience in a hospital setting or related facility.
• Dialysis-specific experience is not required; fully paid on-the-job training is provided.

Responsibilities

• Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
• Assess vascular access before and during treatment, perform cannulation, monitor access pressures, and report or address unusual findings as appropriate.
• Obtain, record, and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, evaluations, and treatment parameters.
• Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; assess patient response and intervene as directed.
• Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
• Document treatment information accurately and promptly, including treatment sheets and applicable progress notes, and report significant patient changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Perform machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; promptly clean blood spills using appropriate disinfectant.
• Organize and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste, and help maintain a safe and clean environment.
• Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
• Assist with training applicable direct patient-care staff under nurse supervision.
• Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application.
• Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and arrange for omissions or corrections by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
• Support infection-control audits, adherence to infection-control practices, and patient and family infection-control education as directed and permitted by state law.
• Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
• Reinforce education for new patients, coordinate appropriate staff visits, and help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options, including peritoneal dialysis setup.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
• Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
• Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, ethical practices, and customer-service standards.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses depending on company and individual performance for bonus-eligible positions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED