Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Shreveport, LA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The PCT provides direct patient care, documents treatment information, reports changes in patient condition, and supports infection-control practices in accordance with organizational policies, applicable laws, and regulations. The technician also supports the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) by following newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforcing education, coordinating care with appropriate staff, helping patients understand home dialysis and treatment options, assisting with modality transitions, and supporting TCU supply inventory. The role includes travel between assigned facilities and community locations and may include travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings. Work takes place in a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials may occur. The work regularly involves direct patient care, heavy lifting and moving patients, prolonged standing, bending, and occasional equipment pushing or pulling.

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’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Ability to 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 work involving frequent, prolonged standing and bending; regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assistance with ambulation; 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 as high as five feet. Assistance devices or a two-person assist may be used for heavier items.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required.

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 prior treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, cannulate vascular access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow rates, and program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and modeling as prescribed.
Monitor patients’ responses to therapy, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant information or changes in condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform treatment discontinuation procedures, obtain vital signs before reinfusion, assess patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, patient responses, and other relevant information accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Conduct patient observation and machine safety checks, ensure required safety alarms are enabled, and report unusual findings.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage; clean blood spills and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and treatment areas between patients.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and infection-control requirements; help collect information for infection-control audits and reinforce infection-control education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by law.
Complete and document participation in 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, prepare laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, coordinate with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled visits, and help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options, including peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality, and help coordinate TCU supply ordering and inventory.
Maintain safe and clean work areas and environmental integrity.