Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Merritt Island, FL

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 operates and sets up hemodialysis machines, supports a safe and clean care environment, and contributes to the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including initiatives related to patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, performs pre- and post-treatment assessments, checks vascular access, initiates and discontinues dialysis as prescribed, monitors treatment and patient response, and documents treatment information. The role also prepares and handles laboratory specimens, maintains equipment and treatment areas, supports infection-control practices, and reports changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, and assists with supply inventory. The position involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and regular physical activity, including prolonged standing, bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. High school diploma or GED is required. Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable 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 continue employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification to continue 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 the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and supplies; patient-moving equipment or coworkers may assist.

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 previous treatment.
Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, and perform patient and vascular-access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Monitor patients and dialysis equipment during treatment, respond to intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform treatment discontinuation, reinfusion, hemostasis, dressing, and discharge-evaluation procedures according to established protocols.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly.
Conduct machine safety checks, ensure required alarms are enabled, and complete pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing (PHT).
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment, and clean and disinfect the dialysis machine, chair, equipment, and treatment area between patients.
Maintain a safe and clean environment, promptly clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant, and follow infection-control policies and procedures.
Participate in CQI activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness and appropriate signatures.
Prepare initial patient charts and laboratory requisitions, and ensure omitted or incomplete treatment-sheet entries are corrected by appropriate staff.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision and support patient self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with patient-specific education concerning adequacy measures, disease process, vascular access, infection control, and treatment options as permitted by state law and under appropriate direction.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, coordinate transitional care, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Support patient understanding of home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with coordination of transitions to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with its supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and attend regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings when required.