Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•AR010 FMCNA Helena - Clinic, LA

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) 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 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 participates in Quality Enhancement Program and Continuous Quality Improvement activities to support patient satisfaction and quality goals. The role provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including patient assessment, vascular access care, treatment initiation and discontinuation, vital-sign and weight measurement, monitoring and intervention, documentation, and specimen collection. The PCT reports changes in patient condition and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor, follows infection-control practices, and helps educate patients and families as allowed by state law. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, coordinates aspects of transitional care, reinforces education, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, prepares and operates equipment, and assists with transition to the patient’s chosen modality. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations and may include travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings. The work takes place in a health care facility and involves regular direct patient care, standing, bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies.

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 and CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on completion.
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 heavy lifting and moving patients, assistance with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, and frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices or coworkers may be available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Measure and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
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 conduct patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide prescribed or directed interventions.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; assess patients before termination of venous access and before discharge; obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately and on time, including the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and applicable progress notes.
Report significant information and changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and label specimens, store them according to laboratory specifications, and ensure courier collection.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient-care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, complete required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and have omitted entries completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print requisitions for prescribed or stat laboratory specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce 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, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the 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 transitions to patients’ chosen modalities, and help coordinate supply ordering and inventory.