Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•St Petersburg, FL

6d•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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a clean and safe work environment, and following organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The technician contributes to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including process improvement efforts intended to support patient satisfaction and quality goals. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients during treatment, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated tasks as permitted by state law, obtains vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, and documents treatment and patient responses. The role also includes identifying and reporting changes in patient condition, carrying out prescribed interventions, collecting laboratory specimens, conducting machine safety checks, and maintaining equipment and treatment areas. The technician supports patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision, helps maintain infection-control practices, and completes treatment, chart, laboratory, and quality-improvement records. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports new patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, demonstrates treatment equipment as applicable, and assists with supplies and inventory. The work includes desk and computer tasks as well as direct patient care in a health care facility. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required, and travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required. The position may involve exposure to infectious materials and requires frequent standing, bending, lifting, and moving patients or supplies, with assistance and lifting devices available for heavier items. Employees 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.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Hold any applicable state licensure and complete required education and training.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
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 frequent, prolonged standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies; assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with 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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations.
Set up, operate, and conduct required safety checks on hemodialysis machines and related equipment.
Welcome assigned patients, ask about their wellbeing, monitor their response to treatment, and evaluate them before discharge.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access pressures during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, evaluations, and treatment parameters.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis according to prescribed orders and established procedures, including programming ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and modeling as prescribed.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, document patient responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, collect and prepare specimens, and ensure specimens are stored and collected according to laboratory requirements.
Maintain accurate and timely treatment documentation, enter data in the clinical application, review treatment sheets for completeness, and prepare patient charts and laboratory requisitions.
Clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; clean blood spills promptly 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 under nurse supervision.
Participate in CQI activities and support patient and staff adherence to infection-control practices and education.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care with appropriate staff.
Reinforce education for new patients, support understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and assist with modality-choice transitions, including demonstrations as applicable.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.