Patient Care Technician- PCT- Training Provided

Fresenius Medical Care•Sellersville, PA

11d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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, and applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean working environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities focused on patient satisfaction and quality goals. The position provides hands-on patient care before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include assessing vascular access, cannulation and delegated heparin administration where permitted, collecting and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to orders and procedures, monitoring patients and equipment, responding to treatment issues, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also handles specimen collection and preparation, treatment documentation, infection-control practices, equipment cleaning, and supply management. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician helps coordinate newly admitted patients’ first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education as allowed by law, supports understanding of treatment options and home dialysis, and assists with treatment setup, modality transitions, and inventory. The role may also assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision. The initial schedule is 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM, with a possible change to 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM based on operational needs. Work includes desk and computer tasks and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required. The work takes place in a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care involves frequent and prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation. The employee may occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift or lower solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance from coworkers and material-assist devices is available for heavier items.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
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.
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.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent standing and bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Provide or reinforce patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, vascular access, and treatment options as appropriate and permitted by state law.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and vascular access evaluations, including patient identification.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure prescribed safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor the patient’s response to dialysis, assess intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and document interventions and patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatments according to procedure, assess the patient before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate the patient before discharge.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as needed, document findings, and report unusual results.
Report significant information, changes in condition, and unusual findings directly to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier pickup of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and follow facility infection-control policies and procedures.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage.
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 customer-service standards.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document participation in CQI activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transitions to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.