Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Zebulon, NC

2d•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. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The technician follows organizational policies and procedures and applicable regulatory requirements. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients throughout dialysis treatment, evaluates vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated heparin administration where permitted, obtains and records vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues treatments according to prescribed orders, and responds to patient or machine issues as directed. The role includes documenting treatment parameters and interventions, reporting significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor, collecting laboratory specimens, and maintaining treatment equipment and supplies. The position also supports patient education, infection control, staff training under nurse supervision, and continuous quality improvement. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, performs treatments on TCU machines, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. Work involves interaction with patients, staff, and physicians in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to meetings. The role includes frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and regular heavy lifting or moving of patients, with assistance or devices available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must meet any 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.
Must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform job functions involving frequent, prolonged standing and bending; regular heavy lifting and moving of patients; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as 5 feet.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; 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 is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist the health care team in providing patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patient responses, evaluate intradialytic problems, perform interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, provide appropriate interventions, and document and report unusual findings.
Complete and accurately document treatment information, vital signs, parameters, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses in designated records and clinical applications.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
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 prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain environmental safety and cleanliness; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare machines and the treatment area, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing or corrected entries are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection control audits, support adherence to infection control practices, and reinforce infection control education for patients and families under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, liaise with appropriate 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, assist with demonstrations of peritoneal dialysis setup, and support transitions to patients' chosen modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.