Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Saginaw, MI

12d•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 follows organization policies, procedures, and training, and applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. The PCT supports patients throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing their wellbeing and vascular access, recording vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, monitoring patient response, addressing treatment issues as directed, documenting care, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes machine safety checks, preparation and handling of laboratory specimens, infection-control practices, equipment cleaning, and recordkeeping. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education as permitted by state law, coordinates care with appropriate staff, supports patient understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with transition to the patient’s chosen modality, supplies, and inventory. The position involves work at a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may be required. Work includes computer and desk tasks and direct patient care. Employees may encounter infectious or contagious diseases or materials. The role requires frequent standing and bending, patient lifting and mobility assistance, and lifting, moving, pushing, or pulling equipment and supplies. A color-vision test is required as a condition of employment; failing the test does not 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.
Meet all 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; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Take 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 the described physical functions, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient lifting and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist the health care team with patient-specific education regarding dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, where appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intradialytic, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required patient identification and evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings, and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, document responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, assess the patient before treatment termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, and other patient-care information accurately and promptly on required treatment records and clinical applications.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, and document, address, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and 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 organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain safe and clean areas and environmental integrity.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing or omitted entries are appropriately completed or corrected.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and support patient and family education under the direction of the Clinical Manager or designee as permitted 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 information for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled discipline visits.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.