Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Dubois, PA

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe, effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and following organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT contributes to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, patient satisfaction, and process improvement. The position provides direct patient support throughout dialysis treatment, including preparing patients and equipment, monitoring treatment and patient response, documenting care, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. Duties also include obtaining and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining infection-control practices, and assisting with staff training 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 facility staff, helps patients understand treatment options and home dialysis, supports transitions to the selected modality, and assists with supplies and inventory. The role involves work in a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise. Employees may be exposed to infectious or contagious diseases or materials. Day-to-day work includes computer and desk tasks and interaction with patients, staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation, frequent prolonged standing and bending, occasional pushing or pulling of equipment, and frequent lifting or lowering of solutions. Reasonable accommodations may be considered. 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 required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must meet all 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 accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the stated physical functions, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, patient lifting and moving, and lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally, with assistance or devices available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

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 last treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin as delegated or allowed by state law, and evaluate access before and during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including standing and sitting blood pressure where required.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, 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 according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; document interventions and patient responses.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, evaluate the patient before discharge, and document treatment completion.
Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, evaluations, and other patient treatment information in the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and designated clinical application.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
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 organizational 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, conduct and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document ongoing CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure nursing signatures and corrections or omitted entries are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts for admission and compile paperwork for placement in the chart; 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.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and how home dialysis may work for them; explain treatment options, including demonstration of peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform a treatment on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Assist in coordinating transition to the patient’s chosen modality and support Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.