Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Winter Haven, FL

13d•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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The technician contributes to quality improvement and patient-satisfaction activities and helps patients achieve the organization’s quality goals. The PCT supports patients throughout dialysis treatment, including pre- and post-treatment assessments, vascular-access care, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring, documentation, and response to patient issues. The role also includes preparing and handling laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and supplies, supporting infection-control practices, and assisting with staff and patient education under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patients in understanding treatment options and home dialysis, and assists with transition planning and inventory. The position involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and work in a health care facility environment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Must have any applicable state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
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 or pull equipment with 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; assistance devices and a two-person assist program are available for heavier items.
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 is preferred.

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency; perform vascular access 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 dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and intervene as prescribed or directed.
Perform treatment reinfusion and discontinuation procedures, obtain relevant vital signs, assess patients before termination and discharge, and achieve hemostasis with appropriate dressings.
Document treatment assessments, vital signs, weights, parameters, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor vascular-access pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, and report and document unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using the appropriate disinfectant and follow facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
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 safe and clean areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Enter treatment data into the designated clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure required signatures and corrections are completed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for placement in the chart; prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee 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 interdisciplinary visits.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit; demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup and support understanding of treatment options.
Assist with coordination of transitions to patients’ chosen modalities and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.