Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care • Belleville, NJ

4d

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 organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.

The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing vascular access, taking vital signs and weights, initiating and monitoring treatment, responding to patient needs, documenting care, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT also supports patient education, laboratory specimen collection, infection control, equipment preparation and disinfection, and record keeping.

In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates with facility staff, helps patients understand treatment and home dialysis options, and assists with transitions to the patient’s chosen modality. The job involves work in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and frequent direct patient care with physical demands that include lifting and moving patients and supplies.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Meet 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 for continued employment.
• Successfully complete CPR certification for continued employment.
• 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 meet the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and lifting or lowering solutions and supplies as described in the posting.

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 patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights; perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations and other required patient assessments.
• Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
• Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
• Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; assess patients before termination and discharge; obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
• Document treatment parameters, vital signs, assessments, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets, progress notes, and designated clinical applications.
• Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
• Assist in 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 according to facility policy.
• Prepare for dialysis treatments, conduct required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
• Participate in and document ongoing CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure required signatures and corrections are completed by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, print lab requisitions, and manage laboratory specimens and courier collection.
• Support infection-control audits and adherence to infection-control practices; follow infection-control policies and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
• Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
• Reinforce education and care information for new patients, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the plan.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transition to their chosen modality.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with TCU supply ordering and inventory.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses for bonus-eligible positions, depending on company and individual performance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED