Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•College Station, TX

17h

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines and helping maintain a safe, clean work environment. It supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvement efforts. The Patient Care Technician welcomes and monitors patients before, during, and after dialysis; evaluates vascular access; performs cannulation and delegated medication administration as permitted; takes vital signs and weights; initiates and discontinues treatment according to prescribed orders; monitors treatment response; and documents treatment information. The role also performs machine safety checks, responds to patient or equipment issues within prescribed direction, collects and prepares laboratory specimens, and maintains infection-control practices. Additional duties include assisting with staff training, maintaining patient records and charts, supporting transitional care for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforcing patient education, and helping coordinate transition to the patient's chosen dialysis modality. Work includes desk and computer tasks, direct patient care, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious materials. Physical work includes frequent standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and handling supplies or equipment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Hold any appropriate state licensure and complete required education and training.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program for continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification for continued employment.
Pass the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and lifting solutions and equipment as described.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, the disease process, and vascular access, as appropriate.
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, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and observe patients while conducting machine safety checks.
Identify intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Complete accurate and timely treatment documentation, including treatment sheets, vital signs, parameters, and applicable progress notes.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Clean blood spills promptly with 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 organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect the dialysis machine, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments.
Prepare for treatments, perform required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately 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, support adherence to infection-control practices, and reinforce infection-control education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed 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 allowed by state law, liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure care disciplines are scheduled according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to 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.