Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Houston, TX

10d•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 treatment environment, and complying with organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations. The technician contributes to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients throughout treatment, evaluates vascular access, obtains and records vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues dialysis according to prescribed orders, responds to treatment-related issues, and documents treatment information. The role also involves collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, carrying out infection-control practices, maintaining and disinfecting equipment, assisting with patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision, and supporting transitional care for newly admitted patients. Transitional care duties include following patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, coordinating care and education, supporting modality selection, and helping manage related supplies and equipment. The position involves direct patient care in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to meetings. Work may include exposure to infectious or contagious materials. Physical duties include frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assisting with ambulation. The employee may occasionally push or pull equipment and frequently lift or lower solutions. Equipment and coworker assistance are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or G.E.D.
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; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and moving, and assisting with ambulation; equipment or coworker assistance may be provided.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations.
Set up and operate hemodialysis machines and conduct required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding (PHT); initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including standing and sitting blood pressure where required; complete patient evaluations and document findings.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, including prescribed blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling; ensure appropriate safety alarms, including Narrow Venous Limits, are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access and arterial and venous pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Document treatment information accurately and promptly in the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet, clinical application, and applicable progress notes; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage; maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Complete and document participation in CQI activities and 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.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, prepare or print lab requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
In the Transitional Care Unit, 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; coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with its supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community, and travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings when required.