Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Pekin, IL

14d

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The position is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. The technician contributes to patient education, satisfaction, safety, and process improvement while following organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations.

The role provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing vascular access, obtaining vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment, monitoring patient response, documenting treatment information, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also includes preparing and collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and treatment areas, supporting infection control, and assisting with the training of direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.

In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, helps patients understand treatment and home dialysis options, and assists with modality transitions, supplies, and inventory.

The position involves travel between assigned facilities and community locations, as well as possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work takes place in a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. Frequent prolonged standing and bending are required; occasional pushing or pulling of equipment up to 15 pounds and frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds, with occasional lifting up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet, may be required. 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 may be considered.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services-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.
• Be able to perform the described physical demands, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.
• Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Assist healthcare team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
• Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
• Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and document pre-, intra-, 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.
• Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
• Ensure required safety alarms, including Narrow Venous Limits, are enabled.
• Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
• Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, evaluate patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
• Document treatment parameters, vital signs, patient evaluations, interventions, and responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
• Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange appropriate courier collection of specimens.
• Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant 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.
• Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
• Maintain a safe, clean environment and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis treatment, document preparation tasks where appropriate, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
• Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
• Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
• Prepare initial patient charts and compile paperwork for placement in charts.
• Prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination.
• Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
• Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
• Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary visits.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and feasibility; explain treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
• Assist with coordinating the transition to the patient’s chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses, depending on company and individual performance, for bonus-eligible positions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED