Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•AZ203 FMCNA Westgate Home - Clinic, AZ

1d•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 follows organization policies, procedures, and training, along with applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, maintains a safe and clean work environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities that support patient satisfaction and quality goals. The position provides direct patient care before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include welcoming and assessing patients, checking vascular access, cannulating access and administering heparin when delegated or permitted by law, recording vital signs and weights, initiating and monitoring treatments, addressing problems as directed, discontinuing treatment, achieving hemostasis, and evaluating patients before discharge. The PCT documents treatment information accurately, reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor, collects and prepares laboratory specimens, and follows facility safety and infection-control procedures. The PCT also helps train applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision, maintains equipment and treatment areas, and completes required clinical records and CQI documentation. In a Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports understanding of treatment options and home dialysis, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with transition planning, supply ordering, and inventory. The work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and health care staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may also be required. The setting is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious materials. Direct patient care involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent prolonged standing, bending, and occasional pushing or pulling equipment. Employees may frequently lift or lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, patient lifting and movement, 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

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, training, and regulations.
Assist health care team members with patient-specific education on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required patient identification and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, and program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling as prescribed.
Monitor patients and dialysis machines during treatment; evaluate intradialytic problems and intervene as prescribed or directed.
Perform pre-reinfusion checks and the procedures required to discontinue treatment; assess patients before termination of venous access, obtain standing and sitting blood pressure readings, achieve hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and document pre- and post-dialysis assessments, vital signs, weights, treatment parameters, interventions, and patient responses.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, conduct machine safety checks, and report changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
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 with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly treatment areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, complete required documentation, perform pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document participation in CQI activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork; prepare or print laboratory requisitions and coordinate specimen collection by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and support patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines see patients 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 all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.