Patient Care Technician- PCT- Training Provided

Fresenius Medical Care • Wilmington, DE

1d • $17 - $27

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. The role involves setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with patient care and monitoring, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and following organization policies, training, and applicable regulations. The technician also supports quality improvement and patient satisfaction activities.

The position includes direct patient-care duties throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, taking and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment as prescribed, monitoring patient response, addressing problems as directed, and reporting changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician performs machine safety checks, manages treatment documentation, collects and prepares laboratory specimens, and helps maintain infection-control practices.

In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, helps patients understand treatment options and home dialysis, assists with modality transitions, and supports supply ordering and inventory. The role requires completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification, along with applicable CMS/state certification requirements within the required timeline. Training is provided.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable 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.
• Successful completion of the organization dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
• Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
• Ability to perform direct patient care involving heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, and bending.
• Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift and 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

• Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
• Evaluate vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including patient identification and vascular access evaluations.
• Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
• Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and UF modeling.
• Monitor patient response and evaluate intradialytic problems, providing interventions as prescribed or directed.
• Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, assess the patient and venous access, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
• Perform and document patient evaluations and treatment parameters, and complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes accurately and on time.
• Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Perform and document interventions for unusual patient status and record patient response.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and label specimens, store them according to requirements, and ensure collection by the appropriate courier.
• Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
• Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
• Assist with training applicable direct patient-care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
• Maintain safe, clean, and orderly work areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
• 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, confirm required nursing signatures, and ensure omissions are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
• Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and support patient and family infection-control education as directed.
• Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
• Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law.
• Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and support understanding of treatment options.
• Assist with coordination of the transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with its supply ordering and inventory.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses for bonus-eligible positions, depending on company and individual performance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED