Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Shreveport, LA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) 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 organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal requirements. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean workplace, and participates in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and achievement of organizational quality goals. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients throughout dialysis treatment, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated tasks as permitted, obtains and documents vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues treatments according to orders and procedures, and responds to changes in patient condition. The position includes machine safety checks and programming, treatment documentation, specimen collection and preparation, cleaning and disinfection, and support for infection control and continuous quality improvement. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, assists patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, and helps coordinate transitions to the patient's chosen modality. The role also assists with supply ordering and inventory. The position requires direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and work in a health care environment with possible exposure to infectious materials. Physical duties include prolonged standing, bending, assisting patients with lifting, moving, and ambulation, and lifting or lowering supplies and solutions. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities. Employees must take an Ishihara color-blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable 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; 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 will be considered.
Ability to perform the stated physical duties, including prolonged standing, bending, assisting patients with mobility, and lifting or lowering supplies and solutions, with assistance or devices available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members 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 patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Evaluate and respond to intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and report significant changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access, achieve hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and document pre- and post-dialysis assessments, weights, vital signs, and treatment parameters.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Conduct patient and machine safety checks, assess vascular access and treatment pressures, perform and document interventions, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently; promptly clean blood spills using approved disinfectant.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and infection control requirements; help maintain a safe and clean environment.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure appropriate staff complete or correct omissions.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection control audits and reinforce infection control practices and education for staff, patients, and families as permitted by 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, coordinate with facility 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, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with coordination of transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.