Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Lake City, SC

15d•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 follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, and applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports quality improvement and patient satisfaction activities. The position provides hands-on patient care before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to prescribed orders and procedures, monitoring patient response, documenting treatment information, reporting changes in condition, and collecting laboratory specimens. The technician also prepares and maintains equipment and supplies, follows infection-control procedures, and contributes to staff training and continuous quality improvement. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, helps patients understand treatment options and home dialysis, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The role involves work in a health care facility, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. Direct patient care regularly involves lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, prolonged standing, bending, and lifting solutions and equipment. Exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials may occur. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

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 and CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
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 using up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance or material-assist devices are available for heavier items.
Ability to work in a health care environment with moderate noise and possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community.

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.
Provide patient-specific education on adequacy measures and disease or access matters as appropriate and within the role’s scope.
Assess vascular access patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform 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 goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide prescribed or directed interventions.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; assess patients before discharge and termination of venous access; obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as appropriate, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills immediately using appropriate disinfectant and follow facility infection-control policies and procedures.
Prepare, organize, and use 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.
Maintain safe and clean surroundings; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and treatment areas between patients.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, perform required pretreatment machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding Tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing or incorrect entries are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits and reinforce infection-control practices and education for patients and families under direction and as permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients, coordinate appointments with relevant staff, and help patients understand home dialysis products and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate.
Assist in coordinating patients’ transitions to their chosen treatment modality and help manage Transitional Care Unit supplies and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations and attend regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings if required.