Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Killeen, TX

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, as well as applicable regulations. It is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and supporting the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement activities to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients throughout dialysis treatment, checks vascular access, obtains and records vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, and responds to treatment concerns as directed. The role documents treatment information, reports changes in patient condition, collects laboratory specimens, and performs machine and environmental safety procedures. It may also support staff training and infection-control activities under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education as permitted by state law, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patients in understanding treatment options and home dialysis, and assists with transition planning, supplies, and inventory. The job involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. The employee may be exposed to infectious materials. A high school diploma or GED is required, and the employee must meet applicable CMS-approved certification requirements within the required timeline. Continued employment depends on successful completion of the dialysis training program and CPR certification.

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.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s 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.
Ability to perform the physical functions described, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, lifting, and moving patients or supplies.
Employees are required to take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and monitor patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document procedures for discontinuing treatment.
Evaluate patients before and after treatment, including before discharge and before termination of venous access; obtain standing and sitting blood pressure as specified.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, patient evaluations, interventions, and other treatment information accurately and promptly.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and route specimens according to laboratory requirements; arrange collection by the appropriate courier.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with 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, clean, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect the dialysis machine, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, document as appropriate, conduct required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Enter treatment data accurately and promptly in 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 compile paperwork for placement in the chart; prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
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 as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduling according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them; assist with explaining treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform a treatment on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Assist with coordinating transition to the patient’s chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.