Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Vancouver, WA

5d • 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, following organizational policies and procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes.

The PCT supports patients throughout dialysis treatment by assessing their wellbeing and vascular access, taking vital signs and weights, initiating and monitoring treatment, responding to treatment-related concerns as directed, documenting care, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes preparing and collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining infection-control practices, cleaning and testing equipment, and completing clinical and quality records.

In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patients in understanding treatment options and home dialysis, and assists with equipment, supplies, and transitions to the patient’s chosen modality. The position involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and work in a healthcare environment where exposure to infectious materials may occur.

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.
• Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
• Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to remain employed.
• Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
• Ability to perform direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation.
• Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
• Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
• Ability to frequently lift and 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.
• Take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

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.
• Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
• Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
• Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
• Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
• Obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
• Document treatment parameters, patient evaluations, interventions, and responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
• Perform machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Prepare and organize supplies and equipment efficiently and clean blood spills using appropriate disinfectant.
• Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision and assist in training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
• Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and infection-control audits; reinforce infection-control practices and education as directed and permitted by state law.
• Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure required nursing signatures are documented, and arrange completion or correction of omitted entries by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
• For Transitional Care Unit patients, coordinate care during the first four weeks of dialysis, reinforce education, liaise with facility staff, and help ensure disciplines see the patient according to the care plan.
• Support patient understanding of home dialysis products, home dialysis benefits, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
• Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
• Maintain a safe and clean environment and follow organizational business policies, procedures, and ethical business practices.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses depending on company and individual performance (for bonus-eligible positions)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED