Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Escanaba, MI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. No dialysis-specific experience is required; comprehensive on-the-job training is provided. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, assists with patient education and treatment, monitors patient condition and treatment response, documents care, and reports significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also supports a safe, clean environment, infection-control practices, quality-improvement activities, and transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients. Work takes place in a health care facility and includes direct patient care, frequent standing and bending, and regular lifting and moving of patients and supplies. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required.

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.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the job, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, direct patient care, and frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as 5 feet; and occasional pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform required patient evaluations and identification checks.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; assess patient response and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Calculate and enter dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling, and ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy; report significant changes, unusual findings, or patient-condition changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and label specimens, store them according to requirements, and arrange for collection by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with 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, perform required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS), and organize supplies and equipment to reduce waste.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on omitted or incorrect entries with appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Support infection-control audits, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families as directed and permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care, and help patients understand home dialysis products and options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate, assist with coordinating transitions to the patient’s chosen modality, and help manage TCU supplies and inventory.