Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Baden, PA

4d•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 follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, assists with maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supports quality improvement and patient satisfaction initiatives. The posting advertises a full 11-week paid training program, no overnights or Sundays, and a schedule of four early-morning workdays of 10 hours each. The position involves welcoming patients, assessing their wellbeing and vascular access, obtaining and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing dialysis treatments according to orders and procedures, monitoring treatment and patient response, and reporting significant changes to a nurse or supervisor. Duties also include cannulation and delegated heparin administration where permitted, machine safety checks and programming, collection and preparation of laboratory specimens, accurate clinical documentation, infection-control practices, and cleaning and disinfecting equipment between treatments. The technician may support patient education, staff training, self-care monitoring, and Continuous Quality Improvement activities. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, supports understanding of treatment and home dialysis options, coordinates care with facility staff, assists with treatment-option demonstrations and modality transitions, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The work includes desk and computer tasks and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may also be required. The healthcare facility environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The position requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices and a two-person assist program are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; failing it does not automatically 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.
Obtain and maintain any applicable state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions as described.
Ability to 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 is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, 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, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patient response, assess intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge and before termination of venous access.
Conduct machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage; assist with maintaining a safe and clean environment.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and infection-control audits; support and reinforce infection-control practices and education as permitted by law.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education for new patients, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care, and help patients understand home dialysis products and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with treatment-option demonstrations including peritoneal dialysis setup, and coordinate transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.