Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Duluth, MN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organizational policies and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality improvement and patient satisfaction activities. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, performs prescribed pre-, intra-, and post-treatment tasks, documents treatment data, and reports changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. Duties also include vascular access care, machine safety checks, laboratory specimen handling, infection control, and assistance with patient education and staff training. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, coordinates aspects of their transitional care, reinforces education, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with supplies and inventory. The role involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and regular interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. On-the-job training is provided; prior dialysis experience is not needed.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Must 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.
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 direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving of patients and assistance with ambulation.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using 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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their well-being since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access, 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 vascular access evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Assess patients during treatment, respond to problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine settings, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Document treatment parameters, assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Perform patient evaluations before discharge and obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings after treatment.
Conduct machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing; initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; immediately clean blood spills using appropriate disinfectant.
Organize and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste, and assist with supply ordering and inventory for the Transitional Care Unit.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and infection control audits; follow and reinforce infection control practices and education as directed.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure required nursing signatures, and have omissions corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care with appropriate staff.
Reinforce education for new patients, support their understanding of home dialysis products and treatment options, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate, and assist with coordinating transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meeting travel may also be required.