Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Winchester, VA

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 and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, helping maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality improvement and patient satisfaction activities. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients during treatment; assesses vascular access; performs cannulation and delegated heparin administration where permitted; records vital signs and weights; initiates and discontinues dialysis according to prescribed orders and established procedures; monitors treatment and patient response; and reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also documents treatment information, performs machine safety checks, collects and prepares laboratory specimens, and maintains infection-control practices. 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 patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The position involves patient interaction and care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and work in a health care facility environment. Direct patient care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. Employees must take the Ishihara color-vision test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered. A high school diploma or GED is required. The employee must meet applicable CMS-approved state or national certification requirements within the required timeline and satisfy any applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements. Continued employment depends on completing the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification. Previous patient-care experience in a hospital or related facility is preferred. The stated hourly rate is $15.00–$24.00, depending on work location and qualifications. The benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and parental leave. Fresenius Medical Care is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a drug-free workplace.

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.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer-service standards.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices and a two-person assist program are available for heavier items.
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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their well-being 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 perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and intervene as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; evaluate patients before termination 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.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, patient responses, and other treatment information accurately and promptly; complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy, including monitoring vascular-access pressures and responding to unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange 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 in 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, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document preparation where appropriate, complete required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data into the designated clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on omitted or incorrect entries with appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control 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 matters for new patients, liaise with FKC 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 coordinating 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.