Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Grayson, KY

5d•Onsite

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 follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean working environment, and supports quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position provides patient education and direct treatment support. Duties include welcoming patients; assessing wellbeing and vascular access; cannulating access and administering heparin as delegated or permitted by law; collecting weights, vital signs, and laboratory specimens; initiating, monitoring, and discontinuing dialysis treatments; responding to treatment issues as directed; and documenting patient assessments, treatment parameters, interventions, and responses. The technician reports changes in condition and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor. Additional responsibilities include preparing and testing dialysis equipment, maintaining supplies, cleaning and disinfecting treatment areas, supporting infection-control practices, completing records and quality-improvement documentation, and assisting with staff training under nurse supervision. In a Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports understanding of home dialysis options, and assists with equipment and supply inventory. The work takes place in a health care facility and includes desk and computer work, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The employee may be exposed to infectious or contagious materials. The role involves direct patient care, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and handling solutions and equipment. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Must have any state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Continued employment is contingent on successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program and CPR certification.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and handling solutions and equipment as described.
Must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will 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 on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including relevant access assessments and initial identification.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients and machine safety during treatment, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report changes or unusual findings to the nurse or supervisor.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to procedures, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Document treatment data, vital signs, parameters, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and label specimens, arrange storage and courier collection, and prepare laboratory requisitions.
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.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis equipment, conduct required pretreatment alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data in the clinical application and review treatment sheets for completeness and required signatures.
Prepare initial patient charts and place admission paperwork appropriately.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce adherence and education, and follow infection-control policies and procedures.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines see patients according to plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition 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.