Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Milwaukee, WI

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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 and procedures, training requirements, and applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. It is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, helping maintain a safe and clean environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement activities. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including patient preparation, vascular access assessment and cannulation, treatment initiation and monitoring, vital-sign and weight measurement, documentation, intervention for patient issues, and discharge evaluation. It also supports patient education, laboratory specimen handling, infection control, staff training, and, in the Transitional Care Unit, the coordination and education of newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis.

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 as a condition of continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent and prolonged standing, bending, moving and assisting patients, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment as described in the posting.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations within the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.
Complete 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 last treatment.
Assess vascular access and its patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine settings, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, perform prescribed or directed interventions, document responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document treatment evaluations, vital signs, treatment parameters, access monitoring, and required patient assessments.
Ensure machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and coordinate pickup of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly and prepare 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 business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis treatments, perform required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure signatures and omitted or corrected entries are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and support infection-control education for patients and families 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; coordinate with staff so patients are seen according to their care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with its supply ordering and inventory.