Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Lacey, WA

11d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe, effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organizational policies, procedures, training, and 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 activities.

The PCT supports patients throughout dialysis treatment, including checking their wellbeing, assessing vascular access, taking and recording vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments, monitoring patient responses, addressing issues as directed, and documenting care. The role also assists with patient education, laboratory specimen handling, infection control, equipment preparation and disinfection, and training of applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.

In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, supports patients’ understanding of treatment and modality options, and helps coordinate transitions to a chosen modality. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may require travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work environment is a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
• Must 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 preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
• Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assistance with ambulation.
• Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet. Assistance devices or coworkers may be available.

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, as appropriate.
• Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their prior treatment.
• Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
• Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
• Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and intervene as prescribed or directed.
• Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to procedures, assess patients before discharge, and obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
• Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
• Document treatment parameters, evaluations, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly; report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
• Conduct patient observation and machine safety checks according to facility policy, including monitoring vascular access pressures during treatment.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and label specimens, and arrange for their storage and collection by the appropriate laboratory courier.
• Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage.
• 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.
• Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
• Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data into the designated clinical application and review treatment sheets for completeness and required signatures.
• Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
• Assist with infection control audits, support adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control policies, and reinforce patient and family infection control 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 and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, explain treatment options, and coordinate transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with its supply ordering and inventory.

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