Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Manitowoc, WI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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 follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. No dialysis-specific experience is required; comprehensive on-the-job training is provided. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, assists in maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. The position provides direct patient care, documents treatment and patient information, supports infection control, and helps patients understand treatment and care options. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician helps coordinate and reinforce care for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis. The work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community. The health care facility has controlled air temperature and moderate noise levels; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials may occur. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The role requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending, occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test 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 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.
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.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and moving, and lifting or lowering solutions as described.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
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, weights, and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, identify treatment problems or unusual findings, intervene as prescribed or directed, and promptly report significant changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, patient evaluations, interventions, and responses accurately and in a timely manner, including completing treatment sheets and applicable progress notes.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of a registered nurse.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; and promptly clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage; conduct treatment preparation and required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omissions are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare or print laboratory requisitions, and ensure lab specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow applicable policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family infection-control education under direction 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 matters for new patients, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with coordination of patients’ modality choices, and help manage TCU supplies and inventory.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and customer service standards.