Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Mansfield, OH

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as 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 improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments. Duties include welcoming patients, checking their wellbeing, evaluating and cannulating vascular access, collecting weights and vital signs, starting and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders and procedures, monitoring patient responses, documenting care, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. Technicians also collect and prepare laboratory specimens, maintain treatment and patient records, perform machine safety checks, and clean and disinfect treatment areas and equipment. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate transitional care, reinforce education, support understanding of treatment options and home dialysis, coordinate modality transitions, and manage related supplies and inventory. The role includes extensive 11-week paid training and job-shadow opportunities. Clinic treatments run Monday through Saturday, 4:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; shifts begin as early as 3:45 a.m. on a rotating schedule.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable 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; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment as described in the posting.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, training, and regulations.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access during treatment.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including required assessments before treatment, before reinfusion, and before discharge.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patient responses and machine safety, intervene as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, assessments, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange for pickup of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently, clean blood spills, and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and treatment areas between treatments.
Maintain a safe, clean environment and follow infection-control policies and procedures; support infection-control audits and patient and family education as directed and permitted by law.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under the supervision of a nurse.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and help ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
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, help patients understand home dialysis and treatment options, and assist with peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations and modality transitions.
Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.