Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Apollo Beach, FL

22d

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 operates hemodialysis machines, supports patient care and education, maintains a safe and clean environment, and participates in quality improvement activities in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The position involves preparing patients and equipment for dialysis, initiating and monitoring treatments, assessing vascular access and patient response, responding to treatment issues as directed, documenting treatment information, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also collects and prepares laboratory specimens, follows infection-control practices, and supports training and continuous quality improvement activities. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with treatment modality transitions and supply inventory. The work includes direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and regular lifting, moving, and assisting patients.

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.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as 5 feet; assistance devices or a two-person assist program are available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations.
Set up, operate, and perform required safety checks and alarm testing on hemodialysis machines.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access pressures during treatment.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, perform patient evaluations, and record relevant treatment information.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter individual dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Complete accurate and timely treatment documentation, including treatment sheets, progress notes when applicable, clinical application entries, and documentation of interventions and patient responses.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; immediately clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities, including activities intended to improve patient satisfaction and quality outcomes.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education as directed and permitted by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, liaise with appropriate staff to coordinate the patient experience, and help ensure that disciplines see the patient according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may also be required.