Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Bristol, TN

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) is part of the dialysis health care team and provides safe, 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 regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), continuous quality improvement (CQI), patient satisfaction, and process-improvement activities. The PCT assists with patient education and dialysis treatments, including assessing vascular access, taking and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments, monitoring patients and equipment, responding to treatment issues, collecting laboratory specimens, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes treatment documentation, infection-control practices, equipment cleaning and preparation, supply management, and support for staff training under a nurse’s supervision. In a Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, helps coordinate transitions to a chosen modality, and assists with unit supplies and inventory. The position involves work in a health care facility, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. It includes direct patient care and physical activity such as prolonged standing, bending, moving or assisting patients, and lifting supplies or equipment. Employees must take an Ishihara color-blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test 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 to continue employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification to continue employment.
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 of the role, including prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting and lowering supplies or equipment as described.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education, as appropriate, about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their prior treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, during-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required patient identification and evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, evaluate patients before termination of venous access and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, patient assessments, interventions, and responses accurately and promptly on treatment sheets and in designated clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills immediately with 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 appropriate programs under a nurse’s supervision.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe and clean environment.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure omitted entries are corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimen pickup by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and support patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
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, and liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduling of services according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal-dialysis setup; assist with coordinating transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.