Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Angier, NC

13d

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 organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvement. The PCT assists with patient education and dialysis treatments, including assessing vascular access, taking pre- and post-treatment measurements, initiating and discontinuing treatments, monitoring patients and equipment, documenting care, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also supports laboratory specimen handling, infection-control practices, staff training, and accurate clinical recordkeeping. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports understanding of home dialysis options, and assists with treatment setup, supplies, and inventory. The position involves direct patient care in a health care facility and may require travel between assigned facilities and community locations, as well as travel to regional, business-unit, or corporate meetings. Work includes interaction with patients and staff, desk and computer work, standing for prolonged periods, bending, lifting and moving patients, and handling supplies and equipment. Exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials is possible. 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 applicable 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 for continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification for 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 role's physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient ambulation and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment as described.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility.

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, where appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including pre-treatment vascular access evaluation and post-treatment assessments.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, intervene as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and report significant information or changes to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document treatment discontinuation procedures, including vital signs before reinfusion, assessment before termination of venous access, hemostasis, dressings, and evaluation before discharge.
Enable appropriate safety alarms, perform machine and patient safety checks, and report unusual findings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as appropriate, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and route specimens according to laboratory requirements, including ensuring courier collection.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, conduct required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI 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 compile paperwork for placement in the chart.
Prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow applicable policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family infection-control education under the direction of the CM or designee 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 matters for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduling of services according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and how home dialysis may work for them, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with coordination of transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.