Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT

Fresenius Medical Care•Suffolk, VA

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 and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and quality goals. The technician supports patients before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to prescribed orders, monitoring patient responses and machine safety, documenting treatment information, reporting changes in patient condition, and collecting laboratory specimens. The role also assists with patient education, staff training, infection-control activities, and continuous quality improvement. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports understanding of home dialysis, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The position involves direct patient care in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community, and possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. Work may include exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Employees 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. A high school diploma or GED is required. The technician must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable timeline and satisfy any required state licensure, education, and training requirements. Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility is preferred. Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program and CPR certification. Hourly pay is $16.00–$26.00, depending on work location and qualifications. The position offers medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and parental leave.

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 direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, and heavy lifting or moving of patients, with assistance or equipment available as needed.
Ability to lift and lower solutions frequently up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment requiring up to 15 pounds of force.
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 travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, where appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required vascular-access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients' responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, evaluate patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment data, vital signs, parameters, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange delivery of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
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 RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe and clean environment.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm tests, including Pressure Holding Tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries 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, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families 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 multidisciplinary visits.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transitions to the chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.