Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Hazel Park, MI

11d•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, helping maintain a safe and clean environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. No previous dialysis experience is needed; on-the-job training is provided. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, performs pre- and post-treatment assessments, supports dialysis treatments, monitors vascular access and patient responses, documents treatment information, and reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes cleaning and preparing equipment, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining infection-control practices, and supporting new patients in the Transitional Care Unit with education and care coordination. The position involves direct patient care and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Work includes desk and computer tasks, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The healthcare facility has controlled air temperature and moderate noise levels; employees may be exposed to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. The work regularly involves lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, prolonged standing, bending, and handling equipment and solutions. Reasonable accommodations may be made for employees with disabilities. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; failing it does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will 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 organizational 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; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.
Ability to perform the position’s physical demands, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, assisting with ambulation, and lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Provide patient-specific education regarding adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and permitted by law.
Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate and respond to intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and report significant changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform treatment discontinuation procedures, assess patients before and after treatment, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Document treatment parameters, assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in the designated clinical records.
Observe patients, conduct machine safety checks, assess vascular access pressures during treatment, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare specimens, and ensure they are collected, labeled, stored, and transferred according to requirements.
Clean blood spills and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas according to facility policy.
Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently, and complete dialysis machine preparation and alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing.
Initiate the Solution Delivery System and monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment and follow organizational policies, procedures, and ethical business practices.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data and review treatment sheets for completeness and appropriate signatures.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare laboratory requisitions, and coordinate collection of laboratory specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce adherence to infection-control practices, and support patient and family infection-control education as directed.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education for new patients, coordinate visits with appropriate care team members, and support patient understanding of home dialysis products and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate, and help coordinate transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.