Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Hartsville, SC

15d

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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality improvement and patient satisfaction initiatives. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation and other delegated tasks, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments, monitors patient responses, addresses treatment issues as directed, records treatment information, and reports significant changes to a nurse or supervisor. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and supplies, supporting infection-control practices, and assisting with staff training. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates with staff to support the patient’s care plan and modality transition, and assists with treatment equipment, supplies, and inventory.

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 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.
Able to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation; frequent, prolonged standing and bending; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform vascular access cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and document patient responses.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient and machine safety checks.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and other patient-care information accurately and promptly.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and label specimens, store them according to requirements, and ensure courier collection.
Prepare, organize, and efficiently use supplies and equipment; clean blood spills and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient-care staff under nurse supervision.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure signatures and omitted or corrected entries are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and laboratory requisitions.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and participate in patient and family education 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.
Reinforce education for new patients, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the care plan, and help patients understand home dialysis products and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with demonstrations of peritoneal dialysis setup, and support transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.