Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Savannah, GA

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of the 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 patients before, during, and after treatment, and maintaining a safe and clean work environment. The PCT follows organization policies and procedures, applicable state and federal regulations, and training requirements, and participates in quality improvement activities intended to support patient satisfaction and quality goals. The position provides direct patient care, including evaluating vascular access, cannulating access, taking and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders, monitoring patients and machine safety, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT documents treatment information, obtains and prepares laboratory specimens, supports infection-control practices, and assists with patient education and staff training under nursing supervision. For transitional care, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, and supports modality transitions and supply inventory. The role involves travel between assigned facilities and community locations, direct interaction with patients and clinical staff, and physical work that can include lifting and moving patients and supplies, prolonged standing, and bending. 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.
Meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required 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 for continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification for continued employment.
Ability to perform essential duties involving direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; lifting and moving patients; and frequently lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Equipment, coworkers, or material-assist devices may be used as described.
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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist other health care team members 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, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and conduct patient evaluations before and after treatment.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patient responses and intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, document responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform machine safety checks, monitor vascular-access pressures during treatment, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange appropriate courier collection of specimens.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization 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 dialysis treatments, perform required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (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, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and provide infection-control education to patients and families under the direction of the CM or designee and 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 and liaise with facility staff to help ensure visits by disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the transitional care unit; assist with coordination of transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Assist with transitional care unit supply ordering and inventory.