Patient Care Technician- PCT- Training Provided

Fresenius Medical Care•Pottstown, PA

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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with patient care and education, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and following organizational policies and applicable regulations. The technician supports quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. The role provides direct care throughout dialysis treatments, including assessing patients and vascular access, taking and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders, monitoring patient responses, responding to problems as directed, and reporting changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. Duties also include collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining accurate treatment records, following infection-control practices, and cleaning and testing equipment. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports patient understanding of home dialysis options, and assists with equipment and supply needs. Training is provided; continued employment depends on successful completion of 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 required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing and bending; heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; and occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations.
Set up, operate, and perform required safety checks and alarm testing on hemodialysis machines; initiate the Solution Delivery System as required.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, cannulate access, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access pressures during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and evaluations, including standing and sitting blood pressure when required.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, including programming treatment time, blood flow, dialysate flow, ultrafiltration goals, and modeling as prescribed.
Monitor patients’ responses to treatment, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, document responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Complete accurate and timely treatment documentation, enter data in the designated clinical application, review treatment sheets for completeness, and assist with chart and requisition preparation.
Maintain a safe, clean work environment; promptly clean blood spills using appropriate disinfectant; and clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under a nurse’s supervision.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and infection-control audits; reinforce infection-control practices and education as directed and permitted by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforce education, coordinate care with appropriate staff, and help ensure disciplines see patients according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate, support treatment-option understanding, and 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.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.