Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Port Gibson, MS

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 corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports quality improvement and patient-satisfaction activities. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including patient assessment, vascular access care and cannulation, obtaining vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders, monitoring patient response, responding to treatment issues as directed, documenting care, and reporting significant findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT also handles laboratory specimens, maintains equipment and supplies, assists with staff training, follows infection-control procedures, and completes related clinical and administrative records. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate their transitional care. Duties include reinforcing education, coordinating staff visits, supporting patients’ understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, setting up and performing treatments on TCU machines, and assisting with modality transitions, supply ordering, and inventory. The work involves patient and staff interaction, desk and computer work, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials may occur. The role includes frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or moving supplies and equipment. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; a failed result does not 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 applicable state or CMS timeline.
Hold any state licensure and complete any education and training required for the role.
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 automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency; cannulate access and administer heparin as delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including patient identification and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; assess the patient before termination of venous access, including standing and sitting blood pressure; obtain hemostasis and apply dressings; and evaluate the patient before discharge.
Perform machine safety checks and observe patients according to facility policy; report changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other treatment information accurately and promptly, including treatment sheets and progress notes where applicable.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, and store specimens according to laboratory requirements; and ensure collection by the appropriate courier.
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 with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and infection-control requirements.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, document tasks as appropriate, complete required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork; prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce adherence to infection-control practices, and participate in patient and family infection-control education under the direction of the Center Manager or designee as allowed 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 as allowed by state law; coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary visits.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.