Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Morgantown, WV

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 involves setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The PCT supports patients throughout dialysis treatment, including obtaining and documenting vital signs and weights, assessing and cannulating vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to orders and procedures, monitoring patient response, addressing problems as directed, and reporting changes in condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also documents treatment data, collects and prepares laboratory specimens, completes machine safety checks, maintains equipment and supplies, and supports infection-control practices. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education as permitted by state law, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, and supports patients in understanding home dialysis and treatment options. The role includes physical work such as frequent, prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and handling solutions and equipment. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may also be required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Must hold any state licensure and complete education and training required for the role.
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.
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.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with 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 to a height of five feet.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education on adequacy measures, disease processes, and access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access patency, perform vascular access cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks, including required pretreatment alarm testing.
Monitor patient response to therapy, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document relevant treatment procedures, patient evaluations, vascular access monitoring, interventions, and patient responses.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and maintain a safe, clean, and aesthetically appropriate environment.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, initiate the Solution Delivery System, and document required activities.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing or incorrect entries are appropriately addressed.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare and print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce infection-control education 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 matters for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.