Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Kailua, HI

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 organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable regulations. It is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, helping maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and achievement of organizational quality goals. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, performs vascular access assessments and cannulation, obtains vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, and documents treatment data. The role monitors patients’ responses and vascular access during treatment, reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor, performs prescribed interventions, and obtains and prepares laboratory specimens. It also maintains equipment and treatment areas, follows infection control practices, and supports patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, assists with transitions to a selected modality, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The position involves work in a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may also be required. Work includes computer and desk tasks and interaction with patients, staff, and physicians. The employee may be exposed 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 require pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lifting 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 applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s 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.
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.
Ability to perform the position’s physical duties, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; direct patient care involving lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation; frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; and occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, where appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for 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 perform vascular access evaluations before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patient responses to dialysis and interventions.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform the functions necessary to discontinue treatment, including standing and sitting blood pressure checks, hemostasis, and dressing application.
Evaluate patients before discharge and complete and document pre- and post-dialysis evaluations.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, and other patient treatment information in the designated records and clinical application.
Report significant information, changes in condition, and unusual findings directly to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy; evaluate vascular access pressures during treatment and document or report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange for 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 organization business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure omissions or corrections are handled by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection control audits, support adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under direction as permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines see the patient according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordination of transition to the patient’s chosen modality, and help manage Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.