Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Bay Minette, AL

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, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and participates in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments. Duties include welcoming patients, assessing their wellbeing and vascular access, obtaining and documenting vital signs and weights, cannulating access, initiating and discontinuing treatment, monitoring patients and machine safety, responding to problems as directed, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT documents treatment parameters and patient responses, obtains prescribed laboratory samples, and monitors patients performing self-care under RN supervision. The role also supports staff training, patient and family education, infection control, record keeping, machine preparation and disinfection, and ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, demonstrates treatment options as appropriate, and assists with supplies and inventory. Work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community. Travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials may occur. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, and bending. Occasional pushing or pulling of equipment may require up to 15 pounds of force. The job also involves frequently lifting and lowering solutions up to 30 pounds and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. 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.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Hold any applicable state licensure and complete required education and training.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Be able to perform the stated physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; direct patient care involving lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation; frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; and occasional pushing or pulling requiring up to 15 pounds of force. Assistance or material-assist devices are available for heavier items.
Travel between assigned facilities and various locations in the community; 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.

Responsibilities

Assist the health care team with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
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 pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings; program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling as prescribed.
Evaluate and respond to intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, monitor patient responses, and report significant information or condition changes to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document treatment discontinuation procedures, including vital signs before reinfusion, evaluation before termination of venous access, hemostasis, dressings, and assessment before discharge.
Conduct machine safety checks and evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures; document and report unusual findings.
Document treatment data, vital signs, treatment parameters, patient evaluations, interventions, and responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare requisitions and specimens, label and store samples according to laboratory requirements, and ensure their collection by the appropriate courier.
Clean blood spills using approved disinfectant and follow facility policy.
Prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste; 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, ethical business practices, and infection control procedures; support patient and staff adherence to infection control practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis treatments, perform required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing entries are corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial admission charts and compile paperwork for appropriate placement in the chart.
Assist with infection control audits and reinforce infection control education for patients and families under the direction of the Center Manager or designee, as allowed 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 support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality, and help coordinate TCU supplies and inventory.