Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Crown Point, IN

13d

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, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and supporting quality improvement activities related to patient satisfaction and the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement (CQI). The PCT provides patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including welcoming patients, assessing vascular access, obtaining and recording vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to prescriptions and established procedures, monitoring patient responses, responding to problems as directed, and documenting treatment information. The position also supports patient education, laboratory specimen collection and handling, infection control, staff training, and preparation and cleaning of treatment areas and equipment. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and transitions to patients’ chosen modalities, and assists with equipment, supplies, and inventory. The work includes interaction with patients and health care staff, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and direct patient care involving lifting, moving, and assisting patients.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate 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.
Ability to perform direct patient care tasks involving frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient ambulation, and lifting or moving patients.
Ability to lift and lower solutions frequently up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment requiring up to 15 pounds of force.
Travel between assigned facilities and various locations in the community is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.
Employees 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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last 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 evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and monitor patient response to therapy.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document the tasks needed to discontinue treatment according to established procedures.
Evaluate patients before treatment termination and discharge, including standing and sitting blood pressure as applicable.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits.
Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, evaluations, and interventions in the required treatment records and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and maintain safe, clean treatment areas.
Prepare, organize, and efficiently use supplies and equipment to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under a nurse’s supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing CQI activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and compile paperwork for placement in the chart.
Prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination.
Assist with infection control audits, support 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 permitted 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 permitted by state law.
Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and how home dialysis may work for them, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Assist with coordinating transitions to the patient’s chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.