Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Holland, MI

9d•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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean working environment, and participating in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities. The PCT assists with patient education, dialysis treatments, monitoring and documenting patient status, laboratory specimen handling, infection control, and preparation and disinfection of equipment. In transitional care, the PCT supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, and helps patients understand treatment and home dialysis options. The position involves direct patient care in a health care facility, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. Work includes computer and desk tasks as well as frequent, prolonged standing, bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. Employees may be exposed to infectious materials. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities. 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 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.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies; lift or lower solutions frequently up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; and occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required.
Must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment.

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 dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and modeling.
Monitor patients' responses to dialysis, assess and intervene in intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document treatment discontinuation procedures, obtain vital signs before reinfusion, assess patients before termination and discharge, achieve hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Conduct machine safety checks and ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare requisitions, collect and label specimens, store them according to laboratory requirements, and ensure courier collection.
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, ethical business practices, and infection control requirements; support infection control audits and reinforce infection control education for patients and families as permitted by state law.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis and perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test; initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing or incorrect entries are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and organize admission paperwork.
Support transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks, reinforce education, coordinate appointments with appropriate staff, and help patients understand home dialysis and treatment options, including peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the transitional care unit; assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality and manage transitional care unit supply ordering and inventory.