Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Lockhart, TX

8d•Onsite

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 operates and sets up hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, performs pre- and post-treatment assessments, measures vital signs and weight, evaluates and cannulates vascular access, and initiates, monitors, and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescriptions and established procedures. The role documents treatment information, responds to patient or machine issues, reports changes in patient condition, obtains laboratory specimens, and follows safety and infection-control procedures. The position also supports staff training, record keeping, treatment-area preparation and cleaning, and continuous quality improvement. 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 equipment and supply inventory. The work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials may occur. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and occasionally pushing or pulling equipment. The employee may frequently lift or lower solutions up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift 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 will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet any 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 to continue employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification to continue employment.

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 previous treatment.
Provide or assist with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, vascular access, infection control, and treatment options as allowed by state law and under appropriate supervision.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access and treatment pressures.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs, weights, evaluations, and patient identification.
Initiate, monitor, 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 required machine safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks.
Observe patient responses to therapy, evaluate intradialytic problems, perform prescribed or directed interventions, document responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, achieve hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with 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 under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly; review treatment sheets and ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, and reinforce infection-control education under the 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 dialysis care.
Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transitions to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with its supply ordering and inventory.