Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Oswego, IL

10d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe, effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports quality improvement and patient-satisfaction activities. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments, records vital signs and treatment information, responds to patient status changes, and reports concerns to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also prepares and processes laboratory specimens, maintains treatment records, supports infection-control practices, and assists with staff and patient education. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, coordinates care with facility staff, reinforces education about treatment and home dialysis options, operates relevant machines, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The position includes desk and computer work, interaction with patients and health care staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious materials may occur. Direct patient care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. Frequent, prolonged standing and bending are required. The employee may occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift or lower solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara color blindness test; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Meet any 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 to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
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 described physical functions, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility.

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and monitor patients’ responses to therapy.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue dialysis according to procedures; assess patients before termination and discharge; obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient-specific machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Accurately and promptly record vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment documentation, interventions, and patient responses in required records and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare requisitions for prescribed or stat laboratory specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the Clinical Manager or designee as permitted by law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Coordinate with appropriate facility staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Reinforce education for new patients, assist with understanding home dialysis products and benefits, and demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Assist with coordination of the patient’s transition to their chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.