Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Greeley, CO

3d•$19 - $24

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 regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean working environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities, including patient satisfaction and process improvement. The position provides direct patient care during dialysis treatments, including preparing patients and equipment, assessing vascular access, monitoring treatment and patient response, documenting care, addressing treatment issues within delegated authority, and reporting significant changes to a nurse or supervisor. Additional duties include specimen handling, infection-control support, record keeping, and assistance with training applicable staff. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports patient understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with supplies and inventory. The position involves desk and computer work, interaction with patients and health care staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The work takes place in a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials is possible. Direct patient care includes heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and occasional pushing or pulling of equipment. Employees may frequently lift or 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. Reasonable accommodations may be made. Employees must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.
Must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.
Ability to perform the described physical duties, including patient lifting and movement, assisting with ambulation, prolonged standing, bending, and lifting or lowering solutions.

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 about adequacy measures and disease process/access, as appropriate and within applicable state law.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, with initial identification, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed individual dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and document patient response.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; assess the patient before termination of venous access, including standing and sitting blood pressure.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate the patient before discharge.
Record accurate and timely vital signs and treatment parameters on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and complete related treatment documentation and, if applicable, progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as needed, document, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Clean blood spills immediately with the 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, and systems, including ethical business practices.
Maintain safe and clean areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, document as appropriate, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
Enter treatment data accurately and promptly into 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 for admission and compile paperwork for placement in the chart.
Prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination.
Assist with collection of information for infection-control audits and support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices.
Follow infection-control policies and procedures and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families 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.
Coordinate with appropriate FKC staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Help patients understand treatment options, including by demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordinating transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.