Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Franklin, TN

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, helping maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities, including efforts related to patient satisfaction and care outcomes. The PCT supports patients throughout dialysis treatment by checking their wellbeing, taking and recording vital signs and weights, assessing and cannulating vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to prescribed orders and procedures, monitoring patient responses, and responding to treatment problems as directed. The position also involves documentation, laboratory specimen handling, machine safety checks, infection-control practices, equipment and area cleaning, and assisting with staff training under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education as permitted by state law, coordinates care with facility staff, supports understanding of treatment options and home dialysis, and helps coordinate transitions to a patient’s chosen modality. The role requires travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meeting travel may also be required.

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.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Able to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assisting with ambulation.
Able to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.
Able 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

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assist with patient education regarding adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate and within applicable law.
Assess vascular access for patency, cannulate access, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access pressures during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, treatment parameters, and evaluations, including patient identification.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Evaluate treatment-related problems and patient responses, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant information or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform machine safety checks and ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
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 with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational 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 according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected 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, reinforce infection-control practices, and participate in patient and family infection-control education under direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as allowed by state law, coordinate visits with appropriate disciplines, and support patient understanding of home dialysis products and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with demonstration of peritoneal dialysis setup, and help coordinate transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.