Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•King George, VA

13d•$15 - $24•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 organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulatory requirements. It includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and contributing to quality improvement and patient satisfaction activities. The PCT welcomes patients, monitors their condition and response to dialysis, evaluates and cannulates vascular access as permitted, initiates and discontinues treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, records treatment information, and reports significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also supports patient education, laboratory specimen collection, infection-control practices, equipment preparation and cleaning, and training of applicable direct-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 facility staff, supports patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, assists with transition to the selected modality, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The position involves work in a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, business-unit, and corporate meetings may also be required. Work includes desk and computer tasks and direct patient care. Employees may be exposed to infectious or contagious materials. Physical requirements include frequent, prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting solutions and equipment. The position requires passing an Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment, although failing the test does not preclude employment and reasonable accommodations may be considered. The role requires a high school diploma or GED and completion of applicable CMS-approved certification requirements within the required timeline. Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification. Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility is preferred. The hourly rate is $15–$24, depending on work location and qualifications. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) with company match, paid time off, parental leave, and other listed perks and discounts.

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.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program for continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification for continued employment.
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 the described physical demands, including prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement, and lifting solutions and equipment.

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 patient-specific education on adequacy measures and, as appropriate, disease processes and vascular access.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, perform vascular access evaluations, and verify 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 required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide and document interventions as prescribed or directed.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, document findings, and report unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to procedure, evaluate patients before termination of venous access and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, evaluations, interventions, and other required information in the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet, clinical application, and progress notes as applicable.
Report significant information and changes in patient condition directly to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient-care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, 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 their transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary care.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordinating the transition to the patient’s chosen modality, setting up and performing treatments on TCU machines, and ordering and managing TCU supplies and inventory.