Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Fayetteville, NC

3d•Onsite

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 involves setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting patient care and education, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and complying with organizational policies and applicable regulations. The PCT supports quality improvement and patient-satisfaction initiatives and participates in continuous quality improvement activities. The position provides direct patient care, including preparing patients and equipment for treatment, monitoring patients during dialysis, documenting treatment information, responding to patient or equipment concerns, collecting laboratory specimens, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also supports infection-control practices, staff training, and transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients, including education about treatment options and coordination of care. Work includes travel between assigned facilities and community locations and may involve exposure to infectious materials and physically demanding patient-care tasks.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational 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.
Pass the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent heavy lifting and moving of patients and assistance with ambulation; frequent, prolonged standing and bending; occasional pushing or pulling requiring up to 15 pounds of force; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices or coworkers may help with heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist the health care team in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome patients, inquire about their wellbeing, evaluate vascular access, obtain pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, and perform cannulation and delegated heparin administration as permitted.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; assess patients and intervene as directed by physician orders or a nurse.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine settings, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling, and ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patient responses and vascular access during treatment, perform machine safety checks, and promptly report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, evaluations, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and in a timely manner.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; clean blood spills promptly and maintain a safe, clean work environment.
Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage; conduct treatment preparation tasks and required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
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 enter treatment data into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Support infection-control audits, follow infection-control policies, reinforce infection-control practices, and assist with patient and family education under appropriate supervision.
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 are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options; demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup; and assist with transitions 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 locations in the community; attend regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings when required.