PCT, Patient Care Technician

Fresenius Medical Care • Yarmouth, MA

5d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician works as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with a safe and clean working environment, and supporting quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and outcomes.

The technician provides patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including assessing vascular access, obtaining vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments as prescribed, monitoring patient response, documenting treatment information, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes specimen collection and preparation, infection-control activities, treatment-area cleaning, equipment and supply preparation, and monitoring patients who perform self-care under RN supervision.

In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, supports patients’ understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, assists with transitions to a chosen modality, and helps manage supplies and inventory.

The position involves work at assigned facilities and in the community, with possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials may occur. Direct patient care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. Frequent prolonged standing and bending are required, as well as occasional pushing or pulling equipment and lifting or lowering solutions.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
• Must meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
• Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
• Continued employment is dependent on successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program and CPR certification.
• Must 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 direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assistance with ambulation.
• Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
• Ability to occasionally push and/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 up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
• Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Assist health care team members 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 for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations.
• Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, and program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
• Evaluate and intervene in intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and report significant information or changes in condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, evaluate patients before discharge, and document treatment and evaluations.
• Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, provide appropriate interventions, and document and report unusual findings.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory testing; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Clean blood spills promptly with the 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.
• Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
• Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis treatments, conduct and document required pretreatment 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 into the designated clinical application.
• 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, prepare and print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
• Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families under direction and as allowed by state law.
• Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
• Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and available treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities, and help coordinate supply ordering and inventory.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses depending on company and individual performance for bonus-eligible positions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED