Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Honolulu, HI

14d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with patient care and education, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and following organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement activities. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including taking vital signs and weights, assessing and cannulating vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments, monitoring patient responses, responding to concerns as directed, documenting care, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. Responsibilities also include laboratory specimen collection and preparation, infection-control practices, equipment cleaning and safety checks, and accurate clinical recordkeeping. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with other staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with transition planning and supply inventory. The role requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations and involves frequent standing and patient handling. Employees must take an 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 required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational 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 direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, and heavy lifting or moving of patients and assistance with ambulation.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as 5 feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform patient evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter dialysis machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patient responses, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and document patient responses.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as appropriate, and report unusual findings.
Report significant information or changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe and clean environment and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
Enter treatment data accurately and promptly; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on omitted entries or missing nursing signatures.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork and prepare or print laboratory requisitions.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and participate in infection-control education for patients and families as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with transitions to the patient's chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.