Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Merritt Island, FL

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 involves setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and complying with organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT supports Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities, including initiatives related to patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients throughout dialysis treatment, evaluates vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated heparin administration as permitted, obtains and records weights and vital signs, initiates and discontinues treatment, responds to intradialytic issues as directed, and documents patient status and treatment parameters. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and supplies, cleaning and disinfecting treatment areas, supporting infection-control practices, and assisting with patient and staff education under nursing supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports understanding of treatment options and home dialysis, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with transition planning and inventory. The position includes desk and computer work, direct patient interaction, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may involve regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meeting travel. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Reasonable accommodations may be considered for essential job functions.

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.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Ability to perform the position’s essential physical functions, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies; reasonable accommodations may be considered.
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.

Nice To Haves

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

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 patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform required vascular access evaluations.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks and required alarm testing.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, patient evaluations, interventions, responses, and other treatment information accurately and promptly.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange pickup of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
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.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and infection-control requirements.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify required nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and coordinate specimen collection by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits and reinforce infection-control education and practices for patients, families, and staff under appropriate direction.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, coordinate with facility staff to support the planned patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the 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 supply ordering and inventory.