Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Wichita Falls, TX

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 regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and participates in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and achievement of organizational quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including patient assessment, vascular access care, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring, documentation, and reporting changes in patient condition. It also includes laboratory specimen handling, infection-control practices, machine preparation and cleaning, and support for patient education. In a Transitional Care Unit, the PCT helps coordinate the first four weeks of dialysis care and supports patients as they learn about treatment options and transition to their chosen modality. The work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and health care staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials may occur. Physical duties include frequent prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, and lifting solutions and equipment. The role requires passing an Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment, though failure 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.
Demonstrated 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.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, assistance with ambulation, and frequent lifting of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
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.

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 previous treatment.
Provide or reinforce patient-specific education, including education about adequacy measures, disease processes, vascular access, infection control, treatment options, and home dialysis, as allowed by state law and under appropriate supervision.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, cannulate access, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access pressures during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and evaluations, including initial patient identification and standing and sitting blood pressure when discontinuing treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and modeling.
Check that required machine safety alarms are enabled, observe patients, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, carry out interventions as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, document interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Document accurate and timely treatment parameters, vital signs, and patient information in treatment sheets, progress notes when applicable, and designated clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, 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.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, conduct and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimen collection by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce 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 care.
Coordinate with appropriate facility staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Support patient understanding of home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.