Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Plainfield, IL

11d•$17 - $27•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 and in accordance with organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in quality improvement activities intended to support patient satisfaction and quality goals. No previous dialysis experience is required; on-the-job dialysis training is provided. The role includes welcoming and monitoring patients, assessing vascular access, initiating and discontinuing dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and procedures, recording treatment information, collecting laboratory specimens, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also supports infection control, staff training, and—when assigned to the Transitional Care Unit—new patients during their first four weeks of dialysis and their transition to a chosen treatment modality. The position is based at the Plainfield clinic, with potential travel or floating to Lemont, Joliet, and other regional clinics as needed. The clinic operates on a rotating schedule that includes weekdays and Saturdays, with some shifts starting at 4:00 a.m. Shifts are 8–12 hours, totaling 40 hours per week. The work takes place in a health care facility and includes direct patient care, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. Employees may be exposed to infectious or contagious diseases and materials.

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; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Ability to meet the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient ambulation, and lifting or lowering supplies and solutions. The posting specifies frequent lifting up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.
Complete the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment. Failure does not preclude employment; reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their well-being since their previous treatment.
Provide patient-specific education with other health care team members as appropriate, including education about adequacy measures, the disease process, and vascular access.
Evaluate vascular access for patency; cannulate access and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, and program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, conduct machine safety checks, identify and intervene in treatment problems as directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, assess the patient before termination of venous access and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of a registered nurse.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and complete associated documentation.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure required nursing signatures are documented, and arrange for omitted entries to be completed or corrected 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, support adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under appropriate direction.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
In the Transitional Care Unit, reinforce education for new patients, coordinate care with appropriate staff, support understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as applicable, and assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
In the Transitional Care Unit, set up and perform treatments on the machines used there and assist with supply ordering and inventory.