Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Shawano, WI

12d•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 organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and participates in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and achieving organizational quality goals. No dialysis experience is required; extensive on-the-job training is provided. The position provides direct patient care, including preparing, initiating, monitoring, and discontinuing dialysis treatments; assessing patients and vascular access; documenting treatment information; reporting changes in patient condition; and obtaining and preparing laboratory specimens. It also involves maintaining equipment and infection-control practices, assisting with staff training, and supporting patients in the Transitional Care Unit as they learn about dialysis and treatment options. The role requires travel between assigned facilities and locations within the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is typical of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Work includes desk and computer tasks as well as frequent, prolonged standing, bending, and direct patient assistance, including lifting and moving patients.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational 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 will be considered.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation; 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 and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous 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, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Monitor patient response and intradialytic issues, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant information or changes in condition to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform required functions to reinfuse and discontinue treatment, assess the patient before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, evaluations, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets, progress notes, and designated clinical applications.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks, including ensuring required safety alarms are enabled and completing pretreatment machine alarm testing.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as 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 with appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste; maintain safe and clean work areas.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under a nurse’s supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm 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.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families under appropriate direction and as allowed by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as allowed by state law; liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and coordinate visits according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transitions 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.