Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Mundelein, IL

11d•$17 - $27•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 organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable state and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, supports a safe and clean environment, and participates in quality enhancement and continuous improvement activities. No previous dialysis experience is required; on-the-job dialysis training is provided. The position includes direct patient care before, during, and after dialysis treatments; documentation and monitoring; laboratory specimen handling; infection-control practices; and support for newly admitted patients in the Transitional Care Unit. The schedule is full-time at 40 hours per week, with rotating shifts and days and 8–12-hour shifts. Some shifts begin 30 minutes before the clinic opens. Clinic hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 4 a.m.–9 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 5 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Sunday. The work takes place in a health care facility and involves interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Duties include frequent standing, bending, lifting, and moving patients, and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required.

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 and CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Previous dialysis experience is not required; on-the-job training is provided.
Ability to perform the position’s physical duties, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, lifting, and moving patients, with assistance or devices available for heavier items.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations.

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 cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and vascular-access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling, and ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, assess intradialytic problems, perform prescribed or directed interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and other patient-care information accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Conduct patient and machine safety checks, including required pretreatment machine alarm testing.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment and use them 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 policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe and clean environment.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities and support patient-satisfaction and quality-improvement efforts.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by the appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and coordinate specimen collection by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, follow infection-control policies and procedures, reinforce adherence, and support patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by 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 information for new patients and coordinate with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with coordination of the patient’s modality choice.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.