Patient Care Technician - PCT - training provided

Fresenius Medical Care•Mashpee, MA

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) is part of the dialysis health care team and provides 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 work environment, and following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including efforts related to patient satisfaction and process improvement. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment: welcoming and assessing patients, evaluating and cannulating vascular access, collecting vital signs and weights, initiating and monitoring treatment, responding to treatment issues as directed, documenting care, and evaluating patients before discharge. The PCT also performs machine safety checks, prepares and collects laboratory specimens, maintains treatment records, follows infection-control practices, and helps prepare and disinfect equipment and treatment areas. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, supports patients in understanding home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with transition to the patient’s chosen modality. The role may involve travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community, as well as travel to regional, business unit, or corporate meetings.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must have any applicable state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
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.
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.
Able to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation, with assistance from equipment or coworkers as available.
Able to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
May be required to push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force.
Able to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of 5 feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform vascular access cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patient responses to therapy and interventions.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and perform and document pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, weights, and vital signs with initial identification.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Record treatment parameters and patient information accurately and promptly on treatment sheets and in designated clinical applications; complete applicable progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy; document interventions and patient responses.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange pickup of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
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 in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and infection-control policies and procedures.
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, perform required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure omissions or corrections are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for admission, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits and reinforce infection-control practices and education for patients and families under the direction of the care manager 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 information for new patients, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and available treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordination of transition to the patient’s chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.