Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Oxford, MS

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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. It includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities that promote patient satisfaction and quality goals. The technician welcomes and monitors patients throughout dialysis treatment, performs vascular-access and vital-sign checks, initiates and discontinues treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, responds to treatment problems as directed, and documents treatment information accurately. The position also involves laboratory specimen collection and preparation, infection-control practices, equipment cleaning and safety checks, and support for staff training. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education within the scope permitted by state law, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, and helps coordinate care transitions and supplies. The job includes direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and physical work such as lifting and moving patients and equipment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable 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 to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Be able to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assisting with ambulation.
Be able to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Be able to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.

Nice To Haves

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

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, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and vascular-access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter individual dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and document patient responses.
Monitor patient responses to dialysis and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge.
Complete accurate and timely treatment documentation, including treatment sheets and applicable progress notes.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient-care staff under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean environment and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Enter treatment data into the designated clinical application and review treatment sheets for completeness and required signatures.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under direction.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise with staff to coordinate services according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations.
Assist in coordinating transitions to patients’ selected modalities and manage TCU supply ordering and inventory.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.