Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Moscow, ID

14d

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 organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvement. The position provides direct patient care during dialysis treatments. Duties include preparing and checking equipment, assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, monitoring patient responses, responding to intradialytic problems as directed, documenting care, and promptly reporting significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT also obtains and prepares laboratory specimens, maintains accurate treatment records, follows infection-control practices, and supports patient and staff education under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with supplies and inventory. The role involves work in a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The job includes frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and occasional pushing or pulling equipment. 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 applicable state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational 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; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent prolonged standing, bending, and lifting or moving patients, with assistance from equipment or coworkers as needed.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using 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; a two-person assist program and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, with patient identification, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow settings, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and perform machine safety checks and required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding (PHT).
Monitor patients and their responses during treatment; evaluate and respond to intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as needed and document and report unusual findings.
Document treatment parameters, evaluations, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets, clinical applications, and progress notes where applicable.
Report significant information or changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments, and promptly clean blood spills according to facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain safe, clean, and aesthetically appropriate work areas; follow organizational policies, procedures, business systems, and ethical practices.
Complete and document participation in CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure required signatures and corrections are completed 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 adherence to infection-control practices, and participate in patient and family infection-control education under direction and as permitted 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, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and planned discipline visits, and help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate.
Assist with coordination of transitions to the patient's chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.