Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care • Des Plaines, IL

9d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician functions as part of the 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, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and supporting quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities intended to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.

The technician welcomes and monitors patients, evaluates vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated tasks such as heparin administration where permitted, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders, monitors patient responses, and documents treatment information. Duties also include machine safety checks, laboratory specimen collection and preparation, infection-control practices, patient education support, and assistance with staff training under nursing supervision.

In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, assists with modality transitions, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The position involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and physical activity including lifting, moving, and assisting patients.

Requirements

• High school diploma or G.E.D.
• Meet 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 organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
• Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program for continued employment.
• Successfully complete CPR certification for continued employment.
• 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 assisting with ambulation, with equipment or coworker assistance as available.
• Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
• Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force.
• Ability to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
• Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform access cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights; perform vascular access evaluations before treatment.
• Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
• Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and intervene as prescribed or directed.
• Calculate and enter dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
• Perform and document treatment evaluations, vital signs, weights, treatment parameters, interventions, and patient responses in the appropriate records and clinical applications.
• Report significant information, changes in condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy, including required pretreatment alarm testing.
• Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare and efficiently use supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
• Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
• Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
• Maintain a safe and clean environment and follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
• Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
• Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and arrange for omitted entries to be 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, reinforce infection-control practices, and support infection-control education for patients and families as directed and 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 and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and planned appointments with care disciplines.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transitions 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.
• Travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses for bonus-eligible positions, depending on company and individual performance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED