Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Adrian, MI

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 corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean working environment, and supports quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The position provides patient education and direct care before, during, and after dialysis treatments. It includes assessing vascular access, cannulating access and administering heparin as delegated or permitted by law, monitoring patient status and treatment response, recording vital signs and treatment parameters, performing machine safety checks, documenting care, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also prepares and handles laboratory specimens, supports infection control, and assists with training applicable direct-care staff under nurse supervision. In a Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate their transitional care. This includes reinforcing education, helping patients understand treatment and home dialysis options, coordinating appointments and modality transitions, performing treatments on TCU machines, and assisting with supply ordering and inventory. The work includes computer and desk tasks and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required, and travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required. The environment is a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care involves frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation. Equipment or coworkers may assist; occasional pushing or pulling may require up to 15 pounds of force. The role frequently requires lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. A two-person assist program and material-assist devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

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.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s 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 preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the described physical duties, including prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide 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.
Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document procedures needed to discontinue treatment.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, assess patients before venous access termination, obtain standing and sitting blood pressure readings, achieve hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and complete pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, weights, vital signs, and identification documentation.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment information, and any applicable progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document interventions for unusual patient status and record patient responses.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and follow facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
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 safe and clean surroundings; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as appropriate, complete required pretreatment machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare or print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family infection-control education under direction as permitted by law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow new patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure visits are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them; explain treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Assist with coordinating transitions to the patient’s chosen modality and with TCU supply ordering and inventory.