Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Indian Land, SC

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and contributing to quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, evaluates vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated heparin administration as permitted, obtains and records pre- and post-treatment measurements, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders, and responds to treatment issues as directed. The role includes programming dialysis machines, performing safety checks, documenting treatments and interventions, reporting changes in patient condition, collecting laboratory specimens, and maintaining infection-control practices. The position also supports staff training and, in a Transitional Care Unit, follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis. This includes reinforcing education, coordinating care and appointments, helping patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, supporting transitions to a chosen modality, and assisting with supplies and inventory. The work involves interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may include travel to regional, business-unit, or corporate meetings. The environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Duties include frequent and prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and handling solutions and equipment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 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 the physical functions described, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting solutions and equipment up to stated limits, with assistance or devices available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility.

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and permitted by law.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate 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, including vascular access evaluations and initial identification.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document the procedures necessary to discontinue treatment.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access, obtain standing and sitting blood pressure, achieve hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Accurately and promptly document vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment records, progress notes where applicable, and interventions.
Report significant information, patient-condition changes, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills immediately with the appropriate disinfectant and follow facility policy.
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 policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as appropriate, complete required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness, nursing signatures, and correction of omissions by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for admission and placement in the chart.
Prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens and ensure collection by the appropriate laboratory courier.
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 CM or designee as permitted by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law; liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the plan.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, benefits, and feasibility; demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup and explain treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on all 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.