Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Euclid, OH

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, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and contributing to quality improvement and patient-satisfaction activities in accordance with organizational policies, applicable regulations, and training. The technician welcomes and monitors patients throughout treatment; evaluates and cannulates vascular access; obtains and records vital signs and weights; initiates, monitors, and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; and responds to treatment issues as directed. The role includes documenting treatment data, reporting changes in patient condition, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, carrying out infection-control practices, and assisting with patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports understanding of treatment and modality options, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. Work includes computer and desk tasks, direct patient care, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; regional, business-unit, or corporate meeting travel may also be required. The environment is a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. The role involves frequent, prolonged standing, bending, and regular heavy lifting or moving of patients, with assistance or devices available. 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 GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet any 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 depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Take the Ishihara color-blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the role’s physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and moving, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment as described.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their well-being 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- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular-access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; evaluate patients before termination and discharge; obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Record treatment parameters and patient information accurately and promptly, including treatment sheets, evaluations, and applicable progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks; document interventions and patient responses.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage; clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient-care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain safe and clean areas.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document preparation as appropriate, perform required machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data into the designated clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on omitted entries or corrections by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork; prepare or print laboratory requisitions; ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as 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 and liaise with facility staff to coordinate the patient experience and discipline visits according to plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, 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.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.