Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Muskogee, OK

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 corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities aimed at improving patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments, monitoring patients and equipment, documenting treatment information, responding to unusual findings, and collecting laboratory specimens. It also includes cleaning and preparing equipment and treatment areas, supporting infection-control practices, assisting with staff training, and participating in record keeping and quality improvement. In a Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate the patient's care and modality transition, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with equipment and supply preparation. The role involves desk and computer work, interaction with patients and clinical staff, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and potential travel to organizational meetings. The work takes place in a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Direct patient care regularly involves 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 lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally are also required. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Ability to meet the physical requirements of the role, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or moving supplies and solutions as described.
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.

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 last treatment.
Assist with patient education regarding adequacy measures, the disease process, and vascular access, as appropriate and within applicable law.
Evaluate vascular access for patency; cannulate access and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks.
Monitor patients' responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide prescribed or directed interventions.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to procedures, evaluate patients before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and document pre- and post-dialysis evaluations, weights, vital signs, treatment parameters, and interventions accurately and promptly.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with the 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 organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices, and maintain safe, clean, and orderly areas.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, 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.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise 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, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with unit supply ordering and inventory.