Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Wichita Falls, TX

14h

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, assisting with patient care and education, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and complying with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The technician contributes to Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position supports patients throughout dialysis treatments, including preparation, monitoring, documentation, and discontinuation of treatment. Duties also include collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, supporting infection-control practices, maintaining equipment and supplies, and assisting with new-patient transitions and education in the Transitional Care Unit. The role involves direct patient care in a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and community locations.

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 to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
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 regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation.
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 items weighing up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access pressures during treatment.
Obtain and record pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre- and post-dialysis evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter dialysis machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate treatment problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other required patient-care information accurately and promptly.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and maintain infection-control practices.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of a registered nurse.
Assist in training applicable direct patient-care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly work areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Complete and document participation in CQI activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure required nursing signatures and omitted or corrected entries are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and coordinate specimen collection by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families under appropriate supervision.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, coordinate visits with appropriate staff disciplines, and support understanding of home dialysis products and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.