Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Milwaukee, WI

7d•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 corporate, state, and federal regulations. No dialysis-specific experience is required; comprehensive on-the-job training is provided. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, assists in maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities. The position provides direct patient care, monitors patients’ responses to treatment, documents treatment information, and reports significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also includes patient education support, infection-control practices, record keeping, and transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients. The work includes desk and computer tasks and regular 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 setting is a temperature-controlled health care facility with moderate noise and possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct patient care involves frequent prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation. The employee may occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift or lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-handling 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 may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet Center for Medicare and 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.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical duties described, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment within the stated weight limits.

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 last treatment.
Provide patient-specific education support regarding dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate and within applicable law.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, perform vascular access evaluations, and identify patients appropriately.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks and required alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing.
Monitor patients during treatment, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and document patient responses.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, obtain required vital signs, assess the patient before termination and discharge, achieve hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, weights, evaluations, interventions, and other patient-treatment information accurately and promptly, including required treatment sheets and progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures, intervene as needed, document findings, and report concerns.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient-care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe and clean environment.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Initiate the Solution Delivery System and complete treatment-preparation tasks and related documentation.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly into 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 or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Assist patients in understanding home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with coordination of the patient’s transition to their chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.