Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Siler City, NC

16d•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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, helping maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities, including efforts related to patient satisfaction and process improvement. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, performs and documents pre-, during-, and post-treatment assessments, evaluates vascular access, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, and responds to treatment issues as directed. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens; maintaining accurate clinical records; conducting machine safety checks; and following infection-control and facility policies. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate transitional care, patient education, modality choices, treatment scheduling, supplies, and inventory. The position involves direct patient care in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may require travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. Work includes computer and desk tasks, interaction with patients and staff, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients, equipment, and solutions. Exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials may occur.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
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 meet the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment as described.

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.
Assist with patient education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and within applicable state law.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including patient identification and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and document patient status and response.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess the patient before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate the patient before discharge.
Record accurate and timely treatment information, vital signs, treatment parameters, interventions, and other required details on treatment sheets and in clinical applications; complete progress notes when applicable.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, and document, report, and respond to unusual findings as appropriate.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills with 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 business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment; disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, complete required documentation, perform pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for admission and placement in the chart.
Prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient 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.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them; assist with understanding treatment options, including demonstration of peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Assist with coordinating transition to the patient’s chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.