Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Marion, SC

13d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe, effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and participates in quality improvement activities focused on patient outcomes and satisfaction. The PCT supports patients throughout dialysis treatment, including preparing and monitoring equipment, assessing vascular access, recording treatment information, responding to patient needs, and reporting changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The position also includes specimen handling, infection-control practices, documentation, patient education support, and assistance with staff training under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate transitional care, reinforce education, explain treatment options, support transitions to a chosen modality, and manage supplies and inventory. The role involves direct patient care, regular interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and other locations as needed. Work takes place in a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious materials, heavy lifting, prolonged standing, bending, and moving patients or equipment.

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 is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent 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 regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assistance with ambulation, with equipment or coworker assistance when needed.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of 5 feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and assess vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks and pretreatment alarm tests, including Pressure Holding Testing.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide prescribed or directed interventions.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access and discharge, and obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, patient evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Report significant information, patient-condition changes, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as appropriate, 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 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 business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain safe and clean environmental conditions.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Initiate the Solution Delivery System and complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and signatures, and ensure omissions or errors are completed or corrected by the appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow relevant policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted 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, liaise with appropriate staff to support the 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.