Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Pekin, IL

15d • $15 - $24 • 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, training, and applicable state and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including initiatives focused on patient satisfaction and process improvement.

The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and monitoring treatment, responding to patient or machine issues, documenting treatment information, and preparing patients for discharge. The technician also supports patient education, laboratory procedures, infection-control practices, staff training, and care transitions for patients in the Transitional Care Unit. The job requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may involve travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Meet 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.
• 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 perform the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment as described.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
• Assist with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate.
• Evaluate vascular access patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
• Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
• Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
• Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
• Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
• Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document functions necessary to discontinue treatment according to established procedures.
• Evaluate patients before termination of venous access and discharge; obtain standing and sitting blood pressure, achieve hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
• Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment evaluations, and other required information on treatment sheets and in clinical applications.
• Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Observe patients, conduct machine safety checks, perform and document interventions, and document patient responses.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and 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 on programs under nurse supervision.
• Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
• Maintain safe, clean, and orderly areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
• Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities.
• Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial admission charts, compile paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
• Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow applicable policies and procedures, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families under direction as allowed 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 as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and coordinate visits by disciplines according to the care plan.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and modality choices, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with coordinating transitions to patients’ chosen modalities, and help order and inventory TCU supplies.

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