Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Clarksdale, MS

16d•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 follows organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable state and federal regulations. The technician 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 PCT welcomes and monitors patients, performs pre- and post-treatment assessments, evaluates and cannulates vascular access, initiates and discontinues prescribed dialysis treatments, monitors patients and equipment, responds to treatment issues as directed, and documents treatment information. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining infection-control practices, preparing and cleaning treatment areas and equipment, and assisting with staff training under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports patients’ understanding of home dialysis options, performs treatments on unit machines, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The position involves desk and computer work, interaction with patients and clinical staff, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to meetings. The work takes place in a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious materials. Direct patient care includes frequent standing and bending, moving and assisting patients, and lifting solutions and equipment.

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 the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist the health care team with patient-specific education on dialysis adequacy measures and disease or vascular-access matters, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous 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, and perform vascular-access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatments according to procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and complete pre- and post-dialysis assessments and documentation.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient and machine safety checks.
Accurately and promptly record vital signs, treatment parameters, interventions, patient responses, and other treatment information in required records and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in condition, unusual findings, or vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and coordinate pickup 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 organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain safe and clean areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing entries are 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, follow infection-control policies and procedures, support staff and patient adherence, and reinforce patient and family infection-control education as directed.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow new patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordination of the patient's transition to their chosen modality, perform treatments on TCU machines, and assist with TCU supply ordering and inventory.