Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Noblesville, IN

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 requirements, as well as applicable state and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities to support patient satisfaction and quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and monitoring treatment, documenting treatment data, responding to changes in patient status, and reporting concerns to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT also helps patients and families understand aspects of dialysis care, supports infection-control practices, assists with laboratory specimen handling, and may support newly admitted patients and their transition to an appropriate dialysis modality in a Transitional Care Unit. 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, and 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 care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The job also requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending, and may require pushing or pulling equipment and lifting solutions weighing up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara color blindness test; failing it 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 applicable state or CMS timeline.
Hold any state licensure and complete any education or training required for the role.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification to continue employment.
Take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the job’s physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and moving, assisting with ambulation, and lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and 40 pounds occasionally.

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 patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and as allowed by state law.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and vascular-access evaluations, including initial identification.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks, including required pretreatment alarm testing and Pressure Holding testing.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and document responses.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge and before termination of venous access.
Record accurate and timely treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, and other required information in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and coordinate collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Participate in and document CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on omissions or corrections with appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts, compile admission paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, and reinforce patient and family education under appropriate direction.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines see the patient according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and modality choices, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with coordinating transitions to patients’ selected modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.