Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Wadesboro, NC

6d•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. The role involves operating hemodialysis machines, supporting patients before, during, and after treatments, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and complying with organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT also supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The technician performs treatment-related tasks such as assessing vascular access, cannulation, obtaining vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing dialysis according to orders and established procedures, monitoring patient responses, documenting treatment information, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. Other duties include preparing and collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and supplies, following infection-control procedures, and completing required records. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education as permitted by state law, coordinates care with appropriate staff, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with modality transitions and supply inventory. 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 work takes place in a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, and bending. The role may also involve pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lifting or lowering solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; failing it does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may 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 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; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting solutions weighing up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as 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.
Calculate and enter prescribed patient-specific machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to procedures; evaluate patients before termination and discharge; and obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
Document treatment parameters, assessments, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly.
Report significant information, patient-condition changes, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor vascular-access pressures during treatment, 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 using the appropriate disinfectant and follow facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under the supervision of a registered nurse.
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 a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document preparation as appropriate, perform required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Enter treatment data into the designated clinical application and review treatment sheets for completeness, signatures, and appropriate correction of omissions.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for placement in the chart; prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the Center Manager or designee as permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with coordination of transitions to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform a treatment on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.