Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Hereford, TX

12d

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 state and federal regulations. It includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and participating in quality improvement activities intended to support patient satisfaction and achievement of organizational quality goals. The PCT provides direct patient support throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatment, monitoring patient response and machine safety, documenting treatment information, obtaining laboratory specimens, and reporting significant changes to a nurse or supervisor. The position also supports staff training, infection-control practices, chart preparation, and continuous quality improvement. In transitional care units, the technician helps coordinate newly admitted patients’ first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, supports understanding of treatment options, and assists with transition planning and supply management. The work includes desk and computer tasks and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The setting is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. The role involves frequent prolonged standing and bending, patient lifting and movement, and occasional pushing or pulling equipment. Employees may frequently lift or lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet. Assistance from coworkers and material-assist devices is available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing it does not automatically 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.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational 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.
Must 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 described, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions up to the stated weights.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist other health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and intervene as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patients’ responses to dialysis and interventions.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and document pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, weights, vital signs, and initial identification.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Accurately and promptly record vital signs, treatment parameters, and other treatment information on treatment sheets and in clinical applications; complete applicable progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures; intervene as needed, document findings, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, 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 with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain safe and clean areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, complete required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts for admission and compile paperwork for placement in charts.
Prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family 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, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure 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 chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the transitional care unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.