Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Lake Havasu City, AZ

15d•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 regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities aimed at improving patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, taking and recording vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments, monitoring patients and equipment, documenting care, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also prepares laboratory specimens, maintains infection-control practices, supports patient education, and helps train applicable direct patient care staff under nursing supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, and helps coordinate transitions to the patient's chosen modality. The role also includes supply ordering and inventory for the unit. The work includes desk and computer tasks and 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 setting is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct care involves frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting patients with ambulation, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. Employees may need to lift solutions weighing up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally, to a height of five feet; assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment, though failing the test does not preclude employment and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required 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 depends 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 physical duties described, including prolonged standing, bending, patient assistance, and lifting or moving supplies and 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 wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Provide patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and as permitted by state law.
Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, perform vascular access evaluations, and confirm patient identity.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings, and calculate and enter prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment times, and modeling.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, assess and intervene in intradialytic problems according to orders or direction, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document treatment discontinuation and reinfusion procedures, evaluate patients before discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, perform machine safety checks, and monitor vascular access pressures during treatment.
Document vital signs, treatment parameters, interventions, patient responses, and other treatment information accurately and promptly in the required records and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens in accordance with laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly 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.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare machines for treatment, perform required pretreatment alarm tests including Pressure Holding Tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document CQI activities; review treatment records for completeness and follow up on missing or incorrect entries through appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and support patient and family education under the direction of the Center Manager or designee, as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Coordinate with appropriate facility staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality, and support TCU supply ordering and inventory.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.