Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Silver Spring, MD

11d

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, supporting patients during treatment, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and following organizational policies, procedures, and applicable regulations. The PCT contributes to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, patient satisfaction, and process improvements intended to help patients achieve quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing vascular access, taking and recording vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment, monitoring patient and machine status, responding to issues as directed, and documenting treatment information. The PCT also performs laboratory collection and preparation tasks, follows infection control procedures, maintains equipment and supplies, and supports patient education and 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, coordinates care with relevant staff, helps patients understand home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with transition to the patient’s chosen modality. The role involves work in a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community. Travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. Work includes desk and computer tasks, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and direct patient care that regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The employee may be exposed to infectious or contagious diseases or materials. The hourly rate is $17.00–$27.00, depending on work location and qualifications.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Must meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (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 organizational 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.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with ambulation, and frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; assistance or material-handling devices are available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist with patient-specific education regarding dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate and under applicable supervision.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations before treatment.
Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patients’ responses to dialysis therapy and interventions.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, perform functions needed to discontinue treatment, and document treatment.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures; evaluate patients before termination of venous access, including standing and sitting blood pressure checks; obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and perform and document pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, weights, and vital signs with initial identification.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Record accurate and timely vital signs and treatment parameters on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet; complete required treatment documentation and progress notes where applicable.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures; intervene as needed and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory testing; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
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 business policies, procedures, training systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain safe and clean areas and preserve environmental integrity and aesthetics.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as appropriate, complete required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts for admission and compile paperwork for placement in the chart.
Prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination.
Ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
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 infection control education as directed and permitted by state law.
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 appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits of home dialysis, and how home dialysis may work for them.
Set up and perform treatment on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as part of treatment-options education.
Assist with coordinating the transition to the patient’s chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.