Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Missouri City, TX

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, and training, and complies with applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position provides patient education support, prepares patients and equipment for treatment, monitors patients during dialysis, documents treatment information, and reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also includes specimen handling, infection-control activities, staff training assistance, and participation in patient transitions and education within the Transitional Care Unit. Work takes place in a health care facility and includes computer and desk work, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The role may involve exposure to infectious or contagious materials, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

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 organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Pass the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Be able to perform essential physical functions, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient assistance and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions and supplies as described in the posting.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education support on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide prescribed or directed interventions.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Perform and document pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, vital signs, weights, treatment parameters, interventions, and patient responses.
Report significant information, changes in condition, or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy; assess vascular access pressures during treatment and report or address unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange pickup of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
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 a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis, perform and document required machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and accurately enter treatment data into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, check for nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare and print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under appropriate direction.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law; coordinate with staff to support the patient experience and planned visits by disciplines.
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 machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.