Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Las Vegas, NV

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, helping maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation, and carries out dialysis treatment procedures according to prescribed orders, facility policies, training, and applicable state law. Responsibilities include obtaining and documenting vital signs and weights, programming treatment parameters, monitoring patients and equipment, responding to unusual findings, collecting laboratory specimens, and completing treatment records. The position also supports staff training, infection-control practices, and the transitional care of newly admitted dialysis patients. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT helps coordinate patients’ first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with supplies and inventory. The work involves interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians; travel between assigned facilities and community locations; exposure to infectious or contagious materials; and frequent standing, bending, lifting, and moving patients or equipment. A high school diploma or GED is required. Employees must meet applicable CMS-approved certification requirements within the required timeline, complete the organization’s dialysis training program, and obtain CPR certification for continued employment.

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.
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.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet.
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 last treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required patient identification and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling as prescribed; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to therapy, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access and arterial and venous pressures during treatment; document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Maintain accurate and timely treatment documentation, including treatment sheets, progress notes when applicable, vital signs, treatment parameters, interventions, and patient responses.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and prepare and organize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
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 and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, conduct required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, nursing signatures, and correction or completion of omitted entries by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow applicable policies, and reinforce patient and family education under direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Reinforce education and assist patients in understanding home dialysis products, benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations as allowed by state law.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit; help coordinate transitions to patients’ chosen modalities and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Follow organization business policies, procedures, systems, ethical practices, and customer service standards.