Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•East Peoria, IL

5d•$15 - $24

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 organization policies, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient outcomes and satisfaction. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing vascular access, obtaining vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment, monitoring patients and equipment, documenting care, and reporting changes in patient condition. Additional duties include preparing and handling laboratory specimens, maintaining infection control practices, cleaning and preparing equipment, and supporting staff training. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and treatment-modality transitions, supports patient understanding of home dialysis, and assists with supplies and inventory.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet any applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program.
Successfully complete CPR certification.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
Ability to perform direct patient care duties involving frequent, prolonged standing; bending; patient lifting and moving; and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift or lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education regarding dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access, 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, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine settings, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient and machine safety checks.
Identify and respond to intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, document interventions and patient responses, and report changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge and termination of venous access.
Accurately and promptly document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, and other required information in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently, and clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and follow facility infection control procedures.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities and assist with infection control audits and education.
Prepare patient admission charts and paperwork, review treatment sheets for completeness, and help ensure missing entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education for new patients, coordinate visits with relevant staff, and help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations, coordinate transitions to patients' chosen modalities, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.