Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Tappahannock, VA

10d

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 involves setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with a safe and clean treatment environment, supporting quality improvement activities, and helping patients receive care and education in accordance with organizational policies, training, and applicable regulations. The technician welcomes and monitors patients before, during, and after treatment; evaluates vascular access; performs delegated treatment tasks; records treatment information; and reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The position also includes preparing and maintaining equipment and supplies, collecting laboratory specimens, following infection-control procedures, and completing required clinical records. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician helps coordinate care and education for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, assists with treatment setup and modality transitions, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The work includes direct patient care and travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community. The employee may encounter infectious materials and must meet physical demands that include frequent standing, bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies.

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.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program for continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification for continued employment.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, direct patient care involving heavy lifting and moving patients, and lifting solutions and supplies as described in the posting.
Employees are required to 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 or related facility.

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and according to prescribed orders and applicable procedures.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access and perform cannulation and delegated heparin administration as permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs, weights, evaluations, and treatment parameters.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Program dialysis machines for prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling, and ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Observe patients, conduct machine safety checks, identify treatment problems or changes in condition, provide prescribed interventions, document responses, and report significant findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and label specimens, and arrange for their collection.
Prepare and efficiently use supplies and equipment to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis equipment and conduct required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing; initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and enter accurate, timely treatment data and participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure signatures and corrections are completed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts, lab requisitions, and specimens in accordance with laboratory requirements.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, and support patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients and liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with supply ordering and inventory for the Transitional Care Unit.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.