Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Winter Haven, FL

10d

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 corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to orders and established procedures, monitoring patients and machine safety, documenting treatment information, responding to changes in patient condition, and collecting laboratory specimens. The PCT also supports patient education, infection-control practices, staff training, and the coordination of care for newly admitted patients in the Transitional Care Unit. The work includes desk and computer duties and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required, and travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required. The work environment is a temperature-controlled health care facility with moderate noise and possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. The employee must stand for prolonged periods and bend over, and may need to 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. Assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Meet any 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.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the position, including prolonged standing, bending, patient movement and ambulation assistance, and lifting or lowering solutions as described.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and community locations.

Nice To Haves

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

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 last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, perform pre-treatment access evaluations, and complete required patient identification and evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ response to therapy, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatments according to procedure, assess patients before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and document treatment evaluations, vital signs, weights, treatment parameters, and interventions accurately and promptly.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks; report changes, unusual findings, or significant information to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, intervene as appropriate, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and 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, training systems, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe and clean environment.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omissions are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork; prepare and 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 infection-control education for patients and families under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with coordinating transitions to patients’ chosen modalities, and help manage TCU supply ordering and inventory.