Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Claremont, NH

14d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) floats between the Claremont and Lebanon Dialysis Centers and works as part of the dialysis health care team. Under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, the PCT provides safe and effective dialysis therapy in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, and training and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, helping maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated tasks as permitted, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, records treatment information, and reports patient status changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining treatment and patient records, supporting infection-control practices, and assisting with staff training under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate transitional care, reinforce education, support understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, coordinate modality transitions, and manage related supplies and inventory. The position involves desk and computer work, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The work takes place in a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious materials. Direct patient care includes frequent prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation. The employee may also push or pull equipment and lift or lower solutions up to specified weights. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Employees must take the Ishihara color blindness test; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Must meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions as described.
Must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Provide or reinforce patient-specific education regarding dialysis adequacy, disease processes, vascular access, infection control, treatment options, and home dialysis, as permitted by state law and under appropriate supervision.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, administer heparin when delegated or allowed by state law, and monitor access pressures during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, evaluations, and treatment parameters, including patient identification.
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 ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patient response, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and document patient responses.
Report significant changes in patient condition and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; promptly clean blood spills according to facility policy.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment, prevent wastage, and assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Complete and participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and appropriate signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork and prepare or print laboratory requisitions.
Assist with infection-control audits and reinforce adherence to infection-control practices among staff, patients, and families as directed.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care with appropriate staff.
Help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the patient care plan and assist patients in understanding treatment choices, including demonstration of peritoneal dialysis setup.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and customer service standards.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment.