Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Richmond, VA

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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting patients during treatment, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and following organizational policies and applicable regulatory requirements. The PCT also participates in quality-improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. The position provides and documents patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including assessing vascular access, recording vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders, monitoring patient responses, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also involves preparing and collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining treatment and patient records, cleaning and disinfecting equipment, supporting infection-control practices, and assisting with patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. For transitional care patients, the PCT helps coordinate care during the first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education about treatment and home-dialysis options, assists with demonstrations and modality transitions, and supports supply ordering and inventory. The role requires direct patient care and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The work takes place in a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious materials, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies.

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.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program as a condition of continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.
Pass the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing; bending; assisting with patient lifting, moving, and ambulation; and lifting or lowering solutions frequently up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds as high as 5 feet.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility.

Responsibilities

Assist with patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess 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 vascular access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine parameters, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to treatment, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, evaluate patients before discharge, and document treatment evaluations and patient responses.
Perform machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Maintain accurate and timely treatment records and enter treatment data in the designated clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on omitted or incorrect entries with appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; promptly clean blood spills using appropriate disinfectant.
Prepare 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.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and infection-control audits; follow infection-control policies and reinforce practices and education as directed.
Support transitional care for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, including coordinating care and appointments with relevant staff.
Reinforce education about home dialysis products and benefits, explain treatment options, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the transitional care unit and assist with its supply ordering and inventory.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean work environment and travel between assigned facilities and community locations as required.