Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Canton, MS

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and quality goals. The technician supports patients throughout dialysis treatments by preparing and monitoring equipment, assessing patients and vascular access, recording treatment information, responding to changes in patient condition, and communicating significant findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining treatment records, supporting infection-control practices, and assisting with staff and patient education. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with other staff, assists patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, and helps coordinate transitions to a chosen modality. The position involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and work in a health care facility. Employees must complete the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not automatically preclude employment, as reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Hold any state licensure and complete any education or training required for the role.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Pass the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, and regularly lifting or moving patients and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force occasionally, lift or lower solutions up to 30 pounds frequently, and lift up to 40 pounds occasionally to a height of 5 feet.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital 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 perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluation.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling, and ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Document treatment information, vital signs, treatment parameters, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Perform machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, 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 and organize supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage; maintain a safe and clean environment.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and infection-control audits; follow and reinforce infection-control practices and education as directed.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm required nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions.
Support newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforce education, coordinate visits and care with appropriate staff, and assist with transitions to patients’ chosen treatment modalities.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with its supply ordering and inventory.