Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Aberdeen, WA

13d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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 involves setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting patients throughout treatment, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and participating in quality improvement activities. The technician follows organizational policies and procedures, training requirements, and applicable state and federal regulations. The position includes direct patient care, treatment documentation, laboratory specimen handling, infection-control support, and assistance with patient education. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, helps coordinate care and treatment-option education, and assists with the transition to the patient’s chosen modality. Work includes interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials may occur.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Hold any applicable state licensure and complete required education and training.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to continue employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification to continue employment.
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 direct patient-care work involving frequent and prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices or coworkers may be available.

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 previous treatment.
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, weights, and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and observe patients while conducting machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; report significant changes and unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, obtain vital signs before reinfusion, achieve hemostasis, apply dressings, evaluate patients before discharge, and document treatment completion.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, patient evaluations, interventions, and responses accurately and promptly in treatment sheets, progress notes where applicable, and designated clinical applications.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste; clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under a nurse’s supervision.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, perform required 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 and ensure missing or incorrect entries are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare and 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 permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines see patients according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, and systems, including ethical business practices.