Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Stafford, VA

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 follows organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations, and includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and supporting quality improvement and patient satisfaction activities. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders, monitors patients’ responses, takes and records vital signs and weights, responds to treatment issues as directed, and reports significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also involves accurate treatment documentation, laboratory specimen collection and preparation, equipment safety checks, infection-control practices, and support for patients performing self-care under RN supervision. In a Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, and supports transitions to the patient’s chosen modality. The position includes desk and computer work, direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and frequent standing, bending, lifting, and moving patients or supplies. The work takes place in a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Obtain any applicable state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
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.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient ambulation, and frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education with other health care team members regarding adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre- and post-treatment evaluations.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Program dialysis machines for prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment times, and modeling, and ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses and vascular access during treatment; intervene as prescribed or directed, document responses, and report unusual findings or changes to the RN or supervisor.
Perform machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange pickup of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments, and promptly clean blood spills using appropriate disinfectant.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and have omissions corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and coordinate specimen collection by the laboratory courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families under appropriate supervision.
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, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transitions to their chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.