Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•New Roads, LA

11d

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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), continuous quality improvement (CQI), patient satisfaction, and process-improvement activities. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, performs vascular-access assessments and cannulation, obtains and records vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, and responds to treatment-related issues as directed. The position includes operating and checking dialysis equipment, documenting treatment information, collecting laboratory specimens, supporting infection-control practices, and assisting with patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician helps coordinate care for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, supports understanding of treatment options and home dialysis, assists with transitions to the patient’s chosen modality, and helps manage supplies and equipment. The role requires meeting applicable CMS-approved state or national certification requirements within the required timeline and successfully completing the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification. Work includes desk and computer tasks and direct interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, and frequent prolonged standing and bending. The employee may occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift or lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items. An Ishihara color-blindness test is required as a condition of employment; 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.
Hold any state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
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; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and specified lifting, lowering, pushing, and pulling.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations.
Set up and operate hemodialysis machines and maintain a safe, clean working environment.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their well-being since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate patients before treatment, before termination, and before discharge.
Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and document treatment completion.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, conduct safety checks, and complete required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing.
Monitor vascular access and arterial and venous pressures during treatment; intervene as appropriate and report unusual findings.
Document accurate and timely treatment data, vital signs, treatment parameters, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses in the designated records and clinical application.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange appropriate courier collection of specimens.
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 a nurse’s supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; maintain safe and clean facility areas.
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and appropriate nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and compile paperwork for placement in charts; prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family infection-control education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as allowed by state law; liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduling of disciplines according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set and perform treatment on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.