Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Rock Hill, SC

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 technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position provides direct patient care before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include assessing vascular access, taking and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, monitoring patients and machines, addressing treatment issues as directed, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also performs accurate treatment documentation, obtains and prepares laboratory specimens, supports infection control, and assists with patient and staff education. In a Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate transitional care. This includes reinforcing education, helping patients understand treatment and home dialysis options, coordinating care with facility staff, assisting with transition to a chosen modality, and supporting TCU supply and inventory needs. The role involves desk and computer work, interaction with patients and health care staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The health care environment may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct patient care includes frequent prolonged standing, bending, moving and assisting patients, and regularly lifting or lowering solutions and equipment.

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.
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 involving frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment as described in the posting.
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.

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Provide or reinforce patient-specific education about adequacy measures, the disease process, vascular access, infection control, and treatment options as appropriate and as permitted by state law.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access pressures during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including standing and sitting blood pressure where required.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, conduct machine safety checks, evaluate intradialytic problems, and intervene as prescribed or directed.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and clinical application.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain safe and clean areas and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis treatments, conduct and document required machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness, required nursing signatures, and correction of omitted entries by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure laboratory specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection control practices, 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.
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, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with TCU supply ordering and inventory.