Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Rayville, LA

7d•Onsite

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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, helping maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities to advance patient satisfaction and quality goals. The technician welcomes and monitors patients throughout dialysis treatments; evaluates vascular access; performs cannulation and delegated heparin administration where permitted; obtains and documents weights and vital signs; initiates, monitors, and discontinues treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; and responds to patient or machine concerns under clinical direction. The role also includes entering treatment data, completing treatment documentation, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining infection-control practices, and cleaning and testing equipment between treatments. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, supports understanding of treatment and home dialysis options, coordinates care and modality transitions with appropriate staff, and assists with equipment, supplies, and inventory. The position involves direct patient care in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to meetings. Work includes frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or lowering supplies and solutions. Employees are required to take an Ishihara color-vision test; failure 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 and CPR certification; continued employment depends 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 the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient ambulation and movement, and lifting or lowering supplies and solutions.
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 is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, perform vascular-access evaluations, and complete patient evaluations before and after treatment.
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 as prescribed.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and observe patients while conducting machine safety checks.
Identify intradialytic problems or changes in patient condition, provide prescribed or directed interventions, document responses, and report significant findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and coordinate collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and efficiently use supplies and equipment; clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under a nurse’s supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and infection-control policies.
Maintain a safe and clean environment and support patient and staff adherence to infection-control practices.
Complete and document participation in continuous quality improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm required nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families under appropriate direction and as permitted 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 information for new patients and liaise with facility staff to support a coordinated patient experience and scheduled discipline visits.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.