Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Brook Park, OH

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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean work environment, and contributing to Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated heparin administration as permitted, obtains and documents vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, and responds to patient or machine concerns. The position also includes documenting treatment information, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining equipment and supplies, following infection-control procedures, and assisting with patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT helps coordinate newly admitted patients’ first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, assists with transition to the patient's chosen modality, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The role involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and equipment. The work takes place in a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials.

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 remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Pass the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; two-person assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.

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.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Monitor patients' responses to dialysis, identify intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of laboratory specimens.
Clean blood spills and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas according to facility policy.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment to support treatment and prevent waste.
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 and follow organization policies, procedures, and ethical business practices.
Perform treatment preparation tasks, required pretreatment machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document CQI activities; enter treatment data in the designated clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on omissions or corrections by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under direction as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist in coordinating transitions to patients' selected treatment modalities and manage Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Assist other health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and access where appropriate.