Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Pell City, AL

19d

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 organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities that support patient satisfaction and quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including patient assessment, vascular access care, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring, documentation, specimen collection, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also includes preparation, testing, cleaning, and disinfection of dialysis equipment and work areas, along with recordkeeping and infection-control responsibilities. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with relevant staff, supports patients in understanding home dialysis and treatment options, and helps coordinate transitions to patients’ chosen modalities. The role requires a high school diploma or GED and completion of applicable state or CMS-approved certification requirements within the required timeline. Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.

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.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s 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 duties involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assistance 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 to a height of five feet.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.
Employees are required to 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

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Provide patient-specific education with other health care team members regarding adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Assess vascular access 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 dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure prescribed safety alarms, including Narrow Venous Limits, are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis and assess and intervene in intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document tasks required to discontinue treatment, including standing and sitting blood-pressure checks where specified.
Obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Complete and document pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, treatment parameters, vital signs, and relevant progress notes accurately and promptly.
Report significant information or changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Conduct machine safety checks and document interventions for unusual patient status and patient responses.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills immediately 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 programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, training, and ethical business practices.
Maintain safe and clean areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis treatments, document preparation as appropriate, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document CQI activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under appropriate direction.
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 matters for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduling of disciplines according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Help patients understand treatment options, including by demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transitions to their chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.