Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Kaukauna, WI

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 follows organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. Dialysis experience is not required; extensive on-the-job training is provided. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, supports a safe and clean work environment, and participates in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational goals. The position provides direct patient care during dialysis treatments, including preparing patients and equipment, initiating and monitoring treatments, responding to patient needs, documenting treatment information, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also includes laboratory specimen handling, infection-control activities, patient education support, and maintaining treatment records. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and treatment-option discussions, supports transitions to the patient’s chosen modality, and assists with supplies and inventory. The position is based at the clinic at 2259 Progress Way, Kaukauna, WI 54130, and requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Meet any 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; 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; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient-care duties that regularly involve heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation, with equipment or coworker assistance when available.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over; occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform access 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, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and document patient responses.
Perform hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge.
Conduct machine safety checks and pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete accurate and timely treatment documentation, enter treatment data into the designated clinical application, and review treatment sheets for completeness and corrections.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment efficiently, avoiding waste; assist with maintaining a safe, clean environment.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and assist with infection-control audits and adherence to infection-control practices.
Reinforce infection-control education for patients and families under the direction of the Center Manager or designee, as allowed by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care with appropriate staff and disciplines.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, support understanding of home dialysis products and treatment options, and demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup when appropriate.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with coordination of the patient’s chosen modality transition, and support supply ordering and inventory.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for admission, prepare or print laboratory requisitions, and ensure laboratory specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.