Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Wareham, MA

12d

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, assisting with a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. The PCT assists with patient education and care before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include assessing vascular access, performing cannulation and delegated heparin administration where permitted, monitoring patients and treatment parameters, responding to problems as directed, recording treatment information, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The position also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining treatment equipment, following infection-control procedures, and completing clinical and quality records. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, assists patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, and helps coordinate transitions to a selected modality. Eleven weeks of paid training are provided. Continued employment depends on successfully completing the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Hold any applicable state licensure and complete required education and training.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program for continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification for continued employment.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assistance with ambulation, with equipment or coworker assistance when needed.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
Ability to work in an environment with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Perform treatment discontinuation procedures, obtain required vital signs, achieve hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Document treatment parameters, patient assessments, interventions, and responses accurately and promptly; report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using the appropriate disinfectant and prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of a registered nurse.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain safe, clean, and orderly work areas.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis and perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Tests; initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data and review treatment sheets and charts for completeness and corrections by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure laboratory specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Support infection-control practices, assist with infection-control audits, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education as directed and permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education for new patients and liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience and ensure planned disciplines see the patient.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required.