Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Springfield, IL

9d • $14 - $23

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 organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable state and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.

The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including welcoming patients, checking their condition and vascular access, obtaining weights and vital signs, initiating and monitoring prescribed treatments, responding to treatment issues, documenting care, and preparing patients for discharge. The technician also performs machine and safety checks, obtains and prepares laboratory specimens, maintains supplies and equipment, follows infection-control practices, and assists with staff training under nurse supervision.

In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, supports patients in understanding home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with modality transitions, supplies, and inventory.

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.
• Demonstrate commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
• Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program to remain employed.
• Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
• Take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.
• Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or moving patients with assistance as needed.
• Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift or lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Provide patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and as permitted by state law.
• Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
• Evaluate vascular access for patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and document pre-, during-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required patient identification.
• 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 appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits.
• Monitor patient response to dialysis, assess and respond to intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess the patient before termination of venous access and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
• Document treatment parameters, assessments, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly.
• Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and report unusual findings.
• Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and facility procedures.
• Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
• 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, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
• Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
• Enter treatment data in the designated clinical application and review treatment sheets for completeness, required nursing signatures, and correction of omissions.
• Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
• Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under 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.
• Coordinate with appropriate staff so patients are seen according to their care plan and receive a positive patient experience.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, explain treatment options, and support coordination of the patient's modality choice.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential for 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