Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•New York, NY

15d•$18 - $29•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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, training, and applicable regulations. The role sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, supports a safe and clean work environment, and participates in quality-enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and monitoring treatment, recording clinical information, responding to changes in patient condition, and preparing laboratory specimens. It also includes maintaining equipment and treatment areas, assisting with staff training under nursing supervision, and supporting infection-control practices. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate transitional care, patient education, treatment options, and modality transitions. The role requires residence in Manhattan, availability for flexible shifts between 4:30 AM and 9:30 PM EST, and three rotating shifts of 12 or more hours Monday through Saturday. Twelve weeks of paid, structured training is available. Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.

Requirements

Must reside in Manhattan.
Must be available for flexible shifts between 4:30 AM and 9:30 PM EST, working three rotating shifts of 12 or more hours Monday through Saturday.
High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Must meet any applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer-service standards.
Continued employment is dependent on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.
The role involves frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and lifting; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; and moving and assisting patients with ambulation.
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.

Nice To Haves

Dialysis experience preferred.
Previous patient-care experience in a hospital setting or related facility preferred.
Candidates with experience as phlebotomists, medical assistants, or CNAs will be considered.

Responsibilities

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 pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Monitor patients’ responses to therapy, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Perform treatment reinfusion and discontinuation procedures, assess patients before discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and other patient-treatment information accurately and promptly.
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; monitor vascular access pressures and intervene or report findings as appropriate.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using the appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
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, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe, clean environment and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data into the designated clinical application and review treatment sheets for completeness and corrections.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork and prepare laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, adhere to infection-control procedures, and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, coordinate appropriate staff appointments, and support a positive patient experience.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.