Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Midwest City, OK

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and participating in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities to support patient satisfaction and quality goals. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, evaluates vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated heparin administration where permitted, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments, monitors patient response, and responds to intradialytic concerns. The role involves obtaining and documenting vital signs, weights, treatment parameters, machine programming, interventions, and patient evaluations; collecting and preparing laboratory specimens; and promptly reporting significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The position also includes machine and equipment preparation, testing, cleaning and disinfection, infection-control support, accurate clinical recordkeeping, and assistance with staff training under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, assists with treatment-option and home-dialysis understanding, helps coordinate care transitions, and supports equipment and supply needs. The role involves work in a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may also be required. Work includes interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials. Physical duties include frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or moving supplies and solutions. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet 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.
Successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the position, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; assisting with patient movement and ambulation; frequently lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds; occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; and occasionally pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

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.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, during-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, access evaluations, and treatment parameters.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, perform prescribed or directed interventions, and document responses.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to requirements.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; immediately clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain environmental integrity and ensure areas are safe and clean.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document CQI activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omissions are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and compile paperwork for placement in the chart.
Prepare and print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under appropriate direction.
In the Transitional Care Unit, 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 permitted by state law, and liaise with staff to support the patient experience and scheduled interdisciplinary care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and the peritoneal dialysis setup demonstration.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.