Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Florissant, MO

1d•Onsite

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 involves setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean environment, and complying with organization procedures and applicable regulations. The PCT contributes to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), continuous quality improvement (CQI), patient satisfaction, and process improvement activities. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients during dialysis, performs assigned vascular access and treatment tasks, takes and records vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues treatments, monitors patient responses, and reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes accurate treatment documentation, laboratory specimen handling, equipment preparation and disinfection, infection-control support, and assistance with 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 with care team members, and helps patients understand treatment options and home dialysis. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may require travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work takes place in a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, prolonged standing, bending, and occasionally pushing or pulling equipment.

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.
Demonstrate 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.
Pass 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 of direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; regularly lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation; occasionally pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lifting and lowering solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-aid devices are available for heavier items.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist 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 wellbeing 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 evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and intervene as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, evaluate patients before termination and discharge, and obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and UF modeling; ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled.
Record accurate and timely vital signs and treatment parameters, complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes, and report significant information or changes in condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy; document interventions and patient responses to unusual status.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills with 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 organization 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, document as appropriate, perform required pre-treatment machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document participation in CQI activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family 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 FKC staff to support the patient experience and coordinate visits according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstration of peritoneal dialysis setup; support coordination of the patient's chosen modality transition.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, and assist with supply ordering and inventory for the unit.