Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Sardis, MS

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, following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and participating in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities to support patient satisfaction and quality goals. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, performs vascular access assessments and cannulation, obtains pre- and post-treatment measurements, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments, responds to treatment issues, and documents treatment information. The role also includes preparing and collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and infection-control standards, and assisting with patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with other staff, supports patients in understanding home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with the transition to the patient's chosen modality. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations and involves direct patient care and physical activity, including lifting and moving patients and equipment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program for continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification for continued employment.
Ability to perform the position's physical duties, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient ambulation and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment as described in the posting.
Employees are required to 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.

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 last treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, cannulate vascular access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain 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.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document the steps required to discontinue treatment.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures and evaluate the patient before termination of venous access, including standing and sitting blood pressure.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate the patient before discharge.
Record pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, weights, vital signs, treatment parameters, and other treatment information accurately and promptly.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
Report significant information and changes or unusual findings in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy; document and report interventions and patient responses.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and prepare specimens for collection.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and facility procedures.
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 organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain safe, clean, and aesthetically appropriate work areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as required, and perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT).
Initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities.
Enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omissions are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for appropriate placement in the chart.
Prepare or print laboratory requisitions and collect, label, prepare, and store specimens according to laboratory requirements; ensure pickup by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
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 allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to coordinate the patient experience and planned discipline visits.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and the peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.