Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Mt Pleasant, WI

6d•Onsite

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 and in accordance with organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean clinic environment, and participating in quality improvement activities. Dialysis-specific experience is not required; fully paid on-the-job training is provided. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients throughout treatment, performs pre- and post-treatment assessments, obtains vital signs and weights, evaluates vascular access, initiates and discontinues dialysis as directed, and documents treatment information. The position also involves responding to treatment issues as directed, reporting changes in patient condition, collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and supplies, and supporting infection-control practices. The role may include transitional care activities for newly admitted patients, including reinforcing education, coordinating care with other staff, helping patients understand treatment options and home dialysis, and supporting transitions to a selected modality. The work involves direct patient care, frequent standing and bending, and regularly lifting or moving patients with assistance as needed. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, business-unit, and corporate meetings may also be required. The clinic is located at 5409 Durand Ave, Mt. Pleasant, WI 53406.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet any 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.
Pass the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, regularly lifting and moving patients with assistance as needed, frequently lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds, occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet, and occasionally pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community.

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.
Evaluate 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 perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patient responses to dialysis, identify treatment problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as appropriate, and report and document unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered-nurse supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment and follow organizational policies, procedures, ethical business practices, and infection-control practices.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities, including activities related to patient satisfaction and quality goals.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure required nursing signatures are documented, and have omissions corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families under the direction of the Center Manager or designee, as permitted by state law.
For transitional care, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional care with appropriate staff.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients and help ensure they understand home dialysis products, home-treatment benefits, and treatment options.
Coordinate appointments with disciplines according to the patient’s care plan and assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the transitional care unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate, and assist with transitional-care supply ordering and inventory.