Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Queen Creek, AZ

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, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and supporting quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and clinical goals. Duties are performed according to organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, checks vascular access, obtains vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments, monitors patient responses, responds to treatment issues as directed, and documents treatment information. The position also involves preparing and collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and supplies, supporting infection-control practices, and assisting with staff training under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports understanding of home dialysis options, and assists with equipment, supplies, and inventory. The role includes desk and computer work, direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and work in a health care environment where exposure to infectious materials may occur. Physical tasks include frequent standing and bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting solutions and equipment within the stated limits.

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.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer-service standards.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the stated physical duties, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and under applicable supervision.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Evaluate and respond to intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and monitor patient response to dialysis.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and complete pre- and post-dialysis evaluations.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment information, and interventions in required records and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
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 prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing or corrected entries are addressed 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, follow infection-control policies, support staff and patient adherence, and reinforce patient and family infection-control education under direction as allowed 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, liaise with appropriate staff to support patient experience and scheduled services, and help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with explaining treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordinating transition to the patient's chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.