Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Fort Worth, TX

4d•Onsite

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 follows organization 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 working environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including initiatives related to patient satisfaction and process improvement. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients during treatment, performs vascular access assessments and cannulation, obtains vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues dialysis according to prescribed orders and established procedures, and responds to treatment concerns as directed. The role includes machine safety checks, treatment programming, documentation, laboratory specimen handling, infection-control practices, and cleaning and preparation of equipment and treatment areas. The PCT reports significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor and may assist with training applicable patient-care staff under nurse supervision. 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’ understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, helps coordinate transitions to a chosen modality, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The work includes desk and computer tasks and regular interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and corporate meetings may also be required. The environment is characteristic of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The position requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices and a two-person assist program 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 may 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.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Be able to perform the stated physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment within the specified limits.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their well-being since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings, and calculate and enter prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform functions required to reinfuse and discontinue treatment, assess patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, observe patients, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Document treatment parameters, patient evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in treatment sheets, progress notes where applicable, and designated clinical applications.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures; intervene as appropriate, document, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and 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.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices, and help maintain safe, clean, and aesthetically appropriate areas.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm tests, including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and arrange for omitted entries to be completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for appropriate filing, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient's selected modality.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.