Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Shelbyville, IN

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 follows organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. It is responsible for setup and operation of hemodialysis machines and helps maintain a safe, clean work environment. The PCT supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvements intended to help patients meet quality goals. The position provides direct patient care during dialysis treatments, including patient assessment, vascular access care, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring, documentation, and reporting changes in condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also includes preparing and cleaning equipment, carrying out infection-control practices, collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining patient records, and assisting with patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates with other staff, helps patients understand treatment options and home dialysis, assists with transition to the patient's chosen modality, and helps manage supplies and inventory. Work includes computer and desk tasks, interaction with patients and care teams, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and direct patient care in a health care facility. The role may involve exposure to infectious materials and requires frequent standing, bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet 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 as a condition of continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.
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 the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, direct patient care involving heavy lifting and moving patients, frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds, occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet, and occasional pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.

Nice To Haves

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

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 prior 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 weight, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide or document interventions as prescribed or directed.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and other patient treatment information accurately and promptly.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Conduct patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy and monitor vascular access pressures during treatment.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange pickup of laboratory specimens according to requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data into clinical applications and review treatment sheets for completeness and corrections.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimen collection by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, and reinforce infection-control 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 matters for new patients, liaise with appropriate staff, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, including demonstration of peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transition to the patient's modality choice, and help coordinate TCU supply ordering and inventory.