Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Cincinnati, OH

12d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) is part of the dialysis health care team and provides safe, effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, helping maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), patient satisfaction, and process improvement activities. The PCT welcomes patients, checks their condition and vascular access, obtains and records vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, monitors patients and dialysis machines, and reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role includes documenting treatment information, performing interventions as directed, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, and maintaining treatment supplies and equipment. Additional duties include supporting staff training under nurse supervision, following infection-control practices, maintaining treatment areas, and assisting with transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT helps coordinate care during patients’ first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with modality transitions, supplies, and inventory. The position involves work in a health care facility, interaction with patients and clinical staff, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to meetings. Direct patient care involves frequent standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and handling supplies and equipment. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will 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 depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions 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.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, training, and regulations.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their prior treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including the required patient identification and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Monitor patients’ responses to therapy and machine safety, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Record treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in the required treatment sheets and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, document findings, and report concerns.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and route specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly and prepare and organize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Maintain safe, clean treatment areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing entries are appropriately completed or corrected.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and support infection-control education for patients and families as directed and 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, liaise with staff to coordinate services, and help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate.
Assist with coordination of transitions to patients’ chosen modalities and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.