Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Alachua, 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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation, and carries out treatment procedures as delegated or permitted by state law. Responsibilities include initiating and discontinuing dialysis according to prescribed orders and established procedures; recording vital signs, weights, treatment parameters, and patient responses; monitoring machine safety and patient status; responding to treatment issues as directed; and reporting significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining accurate treatment records, and preparing patient charts and requisitions. The PCT supports infection-control practices, cleans and disinfects treatment areas and equipment, and helps train applicable patient-care staff under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with supplies and inventory. The position involves desk and computer work as well as direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to meetings. The work environment is a health care facility, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Physical duties include frequent prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation. Employees may also push or pull equipment and lift or lower dialysis solutions and other items. A two-person assist program and material-assist devices are available for heavier items. Reasonable accommodations may be considered. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet 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 described physical duties, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; heavy lifting and moving of patients; assisting with ambulation; pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; and frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
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 in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access and perform cannulation; administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document 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.
Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions 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.
Document treatment parameters, evaluations, vital signs, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in condition, or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy; evaluate vascular access pressures during treatment and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare specimens for collection, and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange delivery of lab samples according to 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 organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe, clean environment and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, perform required pre-treatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding testing, initiate the Solution Delivery System, and document as required.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and help ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, adhere to infection-control procedures, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families under the direction of the CM or designee, as allowed 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 coordinate the patient experience and scheduled disciplines, and support patient understanding of home dialysis and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as applicable, assist with coordination of the patient’s modality transition, and help manage TCU supply ordering and inventory.