Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Memphis, TN

12d

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 environment, and contributing to the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. The PCT welcomes patients, checks their condition and vascular access, obtains vital signs and weights, initiates and monitors dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders, and responds to treatment concerns under established directions. The position includes documenting treatment information, reporting changes in patient condition, collecting laboratory specimens, and monitoring patients performing self-care under RN supervision. The PCT also helps train applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision and supports infection-control practices and patient education. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with other staff, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, assists with transition to the patient’s chosen modality, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The work involves patient and staff interaction, desk and computer work, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and a health care environment with moderate noise and potential exposure to infectious materials. Direct patient care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The role requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending, and may involve pushing or pulling equipment and lifting 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 if reasonable accommodations can be made.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; a failed result does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assistance with ambulation; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet, with assistance or devices available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct required machine safety checks and pretreatment alarm testing.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis and evaluate intradialytic problems, providing interventions as directed or prescribed.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, assess patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, and report or address unusual findings as appropriate.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using the appropriate disinfectant and follow facility policy.
Prepare and efficiently use supplies and equipment 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.
Maintain safe and clean areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Initiate the Solution Delivery System and perform tasks necessary to prepare for dialysis treatment.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimen collection by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and support infection-control education for patients and families under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as permitted by state law and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
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, perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.