Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Gardendale, AL

12d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and monitoring treatment, responding to problems, documenting treatment information, collecting laboratory specimens, and reporting changes in patient condition to a nurse or supervisor. The PCT also assists with staff training, infection control, equipment preparation and cleaning, and ongoing quality improvement documentation. In a Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports new patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, assists patients in understanding home dialysis and treatment options, and helps coordinate transitions to the patient's chosen modality. The role requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. Employees must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable 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 direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assistance with ambulation.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices or a second person are available for heavier items.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and within applicable state law.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, cannulate vascular access, 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 intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patients' responses to dialysis and interventions.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document tasks required to discontinue treatment, including patient evaluation and standing and sitting blood pressure checks.
Obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits at 160, and observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Record accurate and timely vital signs and treatment parameters, complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes, and ensure documentation is complete and appropriately corrected.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures; intervene as appropriate, document, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with 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 appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe and clean environment.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, complete required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection control audits, reinforce infection control practices, follow infection control policies and procedures, and participate in patient and family infection control education under appropriate direction.
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 appropriate staff to coordinate the patient experience and discipline visits according to plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, explain treatment options, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transitions to the patient's chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.