Patient Care technician -PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Lancaster, OH

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organizational policies and procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and contributing to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), continuous quality improvement (CQI), patient satisfaction, and process improvement activities. The PCT provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing vascular access, obtaining and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to prescribed orders, monitoring patient response, addressing problems as directed, collecting laboratory specimens, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also performs machine safety checks, documents treatment data, maintains infection-control practices, and helps prepare and clean treatment areas and equipment. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis. This includes reinforcing education, coordinating care with facility staff, helping patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, performing treatments on unit machines, and assisting with transition to the patient's chosen modality and with supply inventory. The position involves work in a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to meetings may also be required. Employees may encounter infectious materials and must meet physical demands that include frequent prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, and lifting supplies or solutions. The employer notes that reasonable accommodations may be made. An Ishihara color blindness test is required as a condition of employment, but failing it does not preclude employment; reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all 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.
Ability to perform the role's described physical demands, including prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and handling supplies and solutions, with accommodations where applicable.
Complete an Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and under applicable supervision.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including initial patient identification and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure prescribed safety alarms are enabled and observe patients while conducting machine safety checks.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, intervene as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform pre- and post-treatment evaluations, discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Record accurate and timely treatment information on the hemodialysis treatment sheet and in applicable clinical systems; complete progress notes when applicable.
Evaluate and monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, document findings, and report unusual results.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier pickup of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse 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 and clean surroundings; disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and treatment areas between patients.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under direction as permitted by 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 matters for new patients as permitted by state law, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines see patients according to plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Assist with coordination of transitions to patients' chosen modalities and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.