Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Detroit, MI

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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. The PCT helps patients receive education and care consistent with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatment, monitoring patients and equipment, recording treatment information, collecting laboratory specimens, and reporting patient changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT also supports infection control, staff training, patient records, and transitional care for newly admitted dialysis patients. Work includes computer and desk tasks, interaction with patients and care teams, and travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Meet 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 to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Pass the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform frequent, prolonged standing and bend over.
Ability to perform direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation, with equipment or coworker assistance as available.
Ability to push or pull equipment occasionally with up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to lift and lower solutions frequently up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds, as high as 5 feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess 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, weights, and other required patient evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings, and program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Monitor patient response and evaluate intradialytic problems; provide interventions as prescribed or directed and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document treatment discontinuation, reinfusion, venous-access evaluation, hemostasis, and dressing application; evaluate the patient before discharge.
Ensure machine safety alarms are enabled, observe patients, conduct machine safety checks, and evaluate vascular access and treatment pressures during treatment.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment records and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills using appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff 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 required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and required nursing signatures; ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families as permitted by 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 permitted by state law, and liaise with facility staff to coordinate the patient experience and scheduled care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with modality transitions.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.