Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•New Roads, LA

12d

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, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including patient-satisfaction and process-improvement initiatives. The PCT supports patients throughout dialysis treatment by assessing and monitoring patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, recording treatment information, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also involves preparing and collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining treatment equipment and supplies, supporting infection-control practices, and completing required clinical documentation. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education within the scope allowed by state law, coordinates with facility staff to support the patient experience, and helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options. The position includes direct patient care and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. Continued employment depends on successfully completing the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.

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.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer-service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on completion.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient ambulation, and heavy lifting and moving of patients, with equipment or coworker assistance as needed.
Ability to push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force occasionally; lift or lower solutions frequently up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight, and assess vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and intervene as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess the patient before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and complete pre- and post-dialysis evaluations and documentation.
Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment information, and applicable progress notes; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on omitted entries with appropriate staff.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks; report changes, unusual findings, or significant changes in condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures; intervene as appropriate and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently; conduct treatment preparation and required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
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, and orderly environment and follow organizational policies, procedures, ethical business practices, and infection-control requirements.
Participate in and document CQI activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, prepare laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and participate in patient and family infection-control education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted 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 within the scope allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to coordinate services according to the patient’s 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 supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and attend regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings when required.