Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Peoria, IL

8d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician is part of the dialysis health care team and provides safe, effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organization 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 improve patient satisfaction and care outcomes.

The technician welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated tasks as permitted by law, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders, monitors patient response, and documents treatment information. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining and disinfecting equipment and treatment areas, supporting infection control, and reporting changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.

In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with staff, supports patients in understanding treatment and home dialysis options, and assists with treatment setup and supply inventory.

The position involves desk and computer work as well as direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work takes place in a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. The role regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, prolonged standing, and bending; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing it does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• 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.
• 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 preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
• Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, patient lifting and movement, frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds, occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet, and occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Assist other health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
• Welcome assigned patients and ask about their well-being 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 and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluation.
• Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
• Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and monitor patients’ responses to dialysis therapy.
• Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document functions needed to discontinue treatment, including standing and sitting blood pressure measurements when applicable.
• Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access and before discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
• Perform and record pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, weights, and vital signs, including initial identification.
• Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits.
• Record vital signs and treatment parameters accurately and promptly on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet, and complete applicable treatment records and progress notes.
• Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy; perform, document, and report interventions for unusual patient status and document patient responses.
• Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, and provide and document appropriate interventions.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, and store specimens according to laboratory requirements; arrange collection by the appropriate courier.
• Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
• Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
• Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under a nurse’s supervision.
• Follow organization business policies, procedures, and systems, including ethical business practices.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as appropriate, perform required machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
• Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
• Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and have omitted entries completed or corrected by the 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.
• Assist with collecting information for infection control audits; support staff and patient adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control policies and procedures, and reinforce infection control 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 as permitted 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 and benefits, treatment options, and how home dialysis may work for them, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
• Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with coordination of the patient’s modality choice, and assist with TCU supply ordering and inventory.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses, depending on company and individual performance, for bonus-eligible positions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED