Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Apollo Beach, FL

8d•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 follows organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities that support patient satisfaction and quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including patient education support, access evaluation and cannulation, vital-sign and weight collection, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring and intervention, documentation, and specimen collection. The technician also conducts machine safety checks, prepares and disinfects equipment and treatment areas, supports infection-control practices, and assists with staff training under nurse supervision. In a 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 and treatment options, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with supplies and inventory. The role requires a high school diploma or GED and meeting applicable CMS-approved state or national certification requirements within the required timeline. Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification. Prior patient-care experience in a hospital or related facility is preferred. The work includes direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. The employee may be exposed to infectious or contagious materials and 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.

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.
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.
Take 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 direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing and bending; assist with patient lifting, movement, and ambulation; and frequently lift or lower solutions up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Equipment, coworkers, and material-assist devices may be used.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Provide or reinforce patient-specific education, including education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease process, vascular access, infection control, home dialysis, and treatment options, as allowed by state law and under appropriate supervision.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including initial identification and relevant pre- and post-dialysis evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and UF modeling, and ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to treatment, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures; intervene as needed, document, and report unusual findings.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge and before termination of venous access.
Complete accurate and timely treatment documentation, including treatment sheets, progress notes when applicable, vital signs, treatment parameters, interventions, and patient responses.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste; perform pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient-care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly work areas and follow organization policies, procedures, ethical business practices, and infection-control requirements.
Collect information for infection-control audits and support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices.
Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and have omissions corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Liaise with appropriate staff to support patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Assist patients in understanding home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and coordinate transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and other community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.