Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Louisa, KY

11d•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 corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and care outcomes. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment. Duties include welcoming patients, assessing their wellbeing and vascular access, taking and documenting weights and vital signs, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, monitoring patients and dialysis equipment, responding to treatment issues as directed, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT also performs accurate treatment documentation, collects and prepares laboratory specimens, maintains supplies and equipment, and follows infection-control practices. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, helps patients understand treatment options and home dialysis, and assists with transition to the patient's chosen modality. The role may require travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may involve travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable 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 as a condition of continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.
Pass 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 frequent and prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assistance with ambulation.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet. Assistance devices or coworkers may be used for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education about adequacy measures, the disease process, and vascular access as appropriate and under applicable supervision.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including required evaluations before and after treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Monitor patients' responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, assess patients before discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled and perform patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Record accurate and timely treatment parameters and patient information, complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures, and document, report, or intervene on unusual findings as appropriate.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste; conduct treatment preparation tasks and required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing.
Initiate the Solution Delivery System and monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean environment and follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omissions are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare and print laboratory 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 reinforce patient and family education as directed and permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Coordinate with appropriate facility staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with its supply ordering and inventory.