Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Amite, LA

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The PCT assists with patient education and dialysis treatments, monitors patients and equipment, documents treatment information, reports changes in patient condition, and supports infection-control practices. In transitional care, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate education and care related to treatment and modality options. The role involves desk and computer work, interaction with patients and care teams, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The work environment is a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct patient care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The position requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. 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 G.E.D.
Meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s 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 does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Be able to perform the described physical duties, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting and lowering solutions.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, dialysis-related disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for 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, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and intervene as prescribed or directed.
Perform treatment discontinuation and reinfusion procedures, assess patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and observe patients while conducting machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Document accurate, timely treatment information, vital signs, parameters, interventions, and patient responses in required treatment sheets, progress notes, and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices, and maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis and perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing; initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI 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 handled and collected as required.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as allowed by state law, liaise with appropriate staff, and help ensure disciplines see patients according to their care plans.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and 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.