Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Burlington, NC

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, as well as 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 the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), and process improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and quality goals. The PCT supports patients before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include assessing vascular access, cannulating access, taking and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, monitoring patient responses, addressing problems as directed, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also performs machine safety checks, prepares and collects laboratory specimens, maintains accurate treatment documentation, cleans and disinfects equipment and treatment areas, and supports infection-control practices. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and helps coordinate transitional care and education. This includes reinforcing information about treatment and home dialysis options, supporting modality transitions, helping coordinate visits with relevant staff, setting up and performing treatments on TCU machines, and assisting with supply ordering and inventory. The role involves direct patient care in a health care facility and may require travel between assigned facilities and community locations, as well as travel to regional, business-unit, or corporate meetings. Work includes desk and computer tasks and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. The technician may be exposed to infectious and contagious materials and must meet physical demands that include frequent, prolonged standing, bending, assisting patients with movement and ambulation, and lifting or moving supplies and equipment. Employment is contingent on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification. A high school diploma or GED is required, and applicable CMS-approved certification requirements must be met within the required timeline.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Must meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s 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.
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.
Ability to meet the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting patients with ambulation and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment.
Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility is preferred.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, the disease process, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular-access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings, and calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; document interventions and patient responses.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, obtain relevant vital signs, assess the patient before termination of venous access and discharge, achieve hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, and other patient treatment information accurately and promptly, including treatment sheets and progress notes when applicable.
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 and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with 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 included in training.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly surroundings; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, document preparation 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 activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and 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 procedures, and reinforce patient and family infection-control 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 as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and coordinate visits according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them; assist with understanding treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with coordinating transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.