Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Blacksburg, VA

1d•$14 - $23

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis healthcare 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 environment, and participating in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated tasks as permitted, takes and documents vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments, responds to treatment concerns, and documents patient responses and treatment parameters. The position also includes handling laboratory specimens, maintaining treatment equipment and infection-control practices, and supporting patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with other staff, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, helps with transitions to a chosen modality, and assists with supplies and inventory. The work includes desk and computer tasks, direct patient interaction, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and physical tasks such as standing, bending, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. The work environment is a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious materials may occur.

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; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing and bending, assisting with ambulation, and heavy lifting and moving of patients with available assistance as appropriate.
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 as high as five feet.
Ability to work in a healthcare environment with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials.
Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility is preferred.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility.

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and follow organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess 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, including required initial identification and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine settings, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patient responses, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document treatment evaluations, vascular access monitoring, vital signs, treatment parameters, and patient responses to interventions.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
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.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis treatments, complete required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or 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, support 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.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit 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, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines see patients according to plan.
Support patient understanding of home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and help coordinate transitions to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.