Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Fort Worth, TX

11d

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 organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable state and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and achievement of organizational quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including patient education support, vascular access assessment and cannulation, vital signs and weight checks, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring and responding to patient needs, documentation, and reporting changes in condition. It also involves preparing and collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining treatment equipment and supplies, supporting infection-control practices, and completing clinical recordkeeping and quality-improvement tasks. The role includes desk and computer work and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The position requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending, occasional pushing or pulling up to 15 pounds, frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Two-person assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet 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 as a condition of continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.

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.
Assist with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, dialysis disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Evaluate vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including vascular access evaluation and patient identification.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and document patient responses.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis therapy and report significant information or changes in condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, and other patient treatment information accurately and on time.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, and report or document unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and label specimens, store them according to specifications, and ensure collection by the appropriate courier.
Clean blood spills immediately with appropriate disinfectant and maintain a safe, clean, and organized work area.
Prepare and efficiently use supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of an RN.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare dialysis treatments, complete required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Enter treatment data into the designated clinical application and review treatment sheets for completeness, signatures, and corrections by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
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 allowed by state law.