Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Sturgis, MI

14d•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 organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal requirements. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and participates in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position includes direct patient care before, during, and after dialysis treatment. Duties include assessing patients and vascular access, cannulating access, initiating and discontinuing treatments as prescribed, monitoring patients and equipment, responding to treatment issues, documenting care, and communicating changes in condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT also supports laboratory specimen collection, infection control, staff training, and—when assigned to a Transitional Care Unit—new-patient education and coordination of transitions to a chosen dialysis modality. The work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and clinical staff, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and direct patient care in a health care facility. The role may involve exposure to infectious materials, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. A high school diploma or GED is required, along with completion of applicable certification requirements within the required timeline. Continued employment depends on successfully completing the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.

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.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization dialysis training program as a condition of continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.
Ability to perform the described physical functions, with reasonable accommodations where applicable; the job includes frequent, prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting supplies or solutions.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

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.
Provide or reinforce patient-specific education regarding dialysis adequacy, disease processes, vascular access, infection control, and treatment options as permitted by state law and under appropriate supervision.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access and treatment pressures.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, evaluations, and treatment parameters, using initial identification where required.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, observe patients and machine safety, identify intradialytic problems or unusual findings, intervene as directed, and report significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform reinfusion and other treatment discontinuation functions, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, assess patients before discharge, and document treatment and interventions accurately.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and perform pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing; initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and label specimens according to laboratory requirements, arrange collection, and prepare laboratory requisitions.
Prepare and efficiently use supplies and equipment, clean and disinfect machines and treatment areas between patients, and immediately clean blood spills according to facility policy.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision and assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Complete CQI activities, enter treatment data accurately and promptly, review treatment sheets for completeness, and help maintain patient charts and records.
Assist with infection control audits, follow infection control policies, support adherence to practices, and reinforce patient and family infection control education as directed.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
In the Transitional Care Unit, coordinate with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care, explain home dialysis products and options, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and help coordinate the transition to the patient's chosen modality.
In the Transitional Care Unit, perform treatments on machines used in the unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Maintain a safe and clean environment and follow organization business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.