Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Roanoke Rapids, NC

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 organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT 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 intended to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatment, monitoring patients and equipment, documenting treatment information, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also prepares laboratory specimens, maintains treatment equipment and supplies, supports infection control practices, and assists with staff training under nursing supervision. In a Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, and supports patients in understanding home dialysis options. The work involves interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent standing, bending, lifting, and moving patients or equipment. A high school diploma or GED is required. Certification requirements, as applicable, must be met within the required state or CMS timeline. Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable 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 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, bending, assisting with patient ambulation, and lifting or moving patients and solutions.
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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access 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 assess vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms, including Narrow Venous Limits, are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, assess intradialytic problems, and intervene as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document the required steps to discontinue treatment, including standing and sitting blood pressure measurements where specified.
Obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, evaluations, and other treatment information in the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and clinical application.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy; document interventions and patient responses.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, and document, address, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange appropriate courier collection of specimens.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and follow facility policy.
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 approved programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices incorporated into training.
Maintain safe and clean environmental conditions and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document required preparation, perform pretreatment machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing CQI activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omissions are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection control audits, reinforce adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control policies and procedures, and support patient and family infection control education under the direction of the CM or designee, as allowed 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 allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transitions to the patient’s chosen modality, and help coordinate supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required.