Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Shrewsbury, MA

3d • $17 - $27

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 organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes.

The position provides direct patient care before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include welcoming patients, checking their well-being, assessing vascular access, cannulating access and administering heparin where delegated or permitted, obtaining and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to orders and procedures, monitoring patient responses, responding to treatment issues, and reporting changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT also programs treatment parameters, performs machine safety checks, obtains laboratory specimens, documents care, and cleans and disinfects equipment and treatment areas.

The PCT may assist with staff training under nurse supervision and contributes to infection-control audits, education, and practice adherence. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, helps patients understand home dialysis and treatment options, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with transition planning, supplies, and inventory.

The role involves desk and computer work as well as regular interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work takes place in a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. Frequent prolonged standing and bending are required; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment up to 15 pounds and lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally, as high as five feet, may be required. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may 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 meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
• Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
• Continued employment is dependent on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.
• 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 the described physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, patient assistance and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Welcome assigned patients and ask about their well-being since their previous treatment.
• Assist with patient-specific education concerning adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
• Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
• Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
• Calculate and enter prescribed patient machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and UF modeling.
• Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and intervene as prescribed or directed.
• Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document tasks necessary to discontinue treatment according to established procedures.
• Evaluate patients before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
• Complete accurate, timely treatment documentation, including vital signs, treatment parameters, evaluations, intervention responses, and applicable progress notes.
• Report significant information, patient-condition changes, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Monitor and evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, and document, report, or respond to unusual findings.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
• Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and 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 organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices incorporated into training.
• Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis, complete required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
• Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
• Review treatment sheets for completeness and nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient charts and admission 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 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 care.
• Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary visits.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality, and help coordinate supplies and inventory.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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