Patient Care Technician- PCT- Training Provided

Fresenius Medical Care•East Stroudsburg, PA

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 organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable state and federal regulations. It is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines and helping maintain a safe, clean work environment. The PCT also supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including process improvements intended to support patient satisfaction and quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed procedures, monitoring patients and equipment, documenting treatment information, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also involves collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining infection-control practices, preparing and disinfecting equipment, and completing clinical and quality records. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education under applicable supervision and state-law limits, helps coordinate care and transitions to a chosen dialysis modality, demonstrates treatment options, and assists with unit supplies and inventory. The work takes place in a health care facility and includes interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The role may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials, frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and occasional pushing or pulling equipment. Employees must 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.

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.
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.
Take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Able to perform the physical functions of the position, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient lifting and ambulation, frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds, occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet, and occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.

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 wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Evaluate and address intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and report significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, evaluate patients before termination of venous access and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, perform machine safety checks, and conduct required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing.
Document treatment parameters, patient evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in the appropriate records and clinical applications.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, 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.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing or corrected entries are completed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and support patient and family infection-control education under direction and 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 information for new patients as allowed by state law; liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and coordinate scheduled disciplines.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transitions to the patient's selected modality.
Set up and perform treatment on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, and assist with TCU supply ordering and inventory.