Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Houston, TX

7d•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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean working environment, and participating in the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), continuous quality improvement (CQI), and process improvement activities. The technician welcomes patients, assesses their wellbeing and vascular access, obtains and records weights and vital signs, initiates and monitors dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders, responds to treatment issues as directed, and completes treatment documentation. The role also involves collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and supplies, following infection-control procedures, and reporting significant changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with other staff, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with transition to the patient’s selected modality. The position includes direct patient care and work across assigned facilities and community locations.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must obtain any applicable state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation, with equipment or coworker assistance available.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting 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.
Evaluate vascular access for 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 perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and observe patients while conducting machine safety checks.
Monitor patient response to therapy, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures; obtain vital signs before reinfusion; assess patients before termination and discharge; achieve hemostasis and apply dressings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly, including treatment sheets and progress notes where applicable.
Report significant changes, unusual findings, and other relevant information to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene when needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using 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 machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, document tasks where appropriate, complete required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and on time.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and compile paperwork; prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat 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 appropriate direction.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as allowed by state law; liaise with facility staff to coordinate the patient experience and scheduled disciplines.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup; support 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.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required.