Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Fort Worth, TX

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, training, and applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including process improvements related to patient satisfaction and quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments. Duties include welcoming patients; evaluating vascular access; cannulating access and administering heparin when delegated or permitted by law; obtaining and recording weights and vital signs; initiating, monitoring, and discontinuing treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; responding to treatment issues; and evaluating patients before discharge. The technician documents treatment data and interventions, monitors machine safety and patient response, reports significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor, and obtains and prepares prescribed laboratory specimens. The PCT also prepares and disinfects treatment areas and equipment, performs required machine alarm testing, initiates the Solution Delivery System, and follows infection control procedures. In the Transitional Care Unit, the role supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, supports understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The position may involve travel between assigned facilities and community locations, as well as occasional travel to meetings. The work takes place in a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious materials, frequent standing and 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 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 and 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 will be considered.
Be able to perform direct patient care involving frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and assistance with patient lifting, moving, and ambulation.
Be able to push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force occasionally, frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet; assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, training, and regulations.
Assist with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and as permitted by state law.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including required pre-treatment access evaluation and post-treatment checks.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, and program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling as prescribed.
Monitor patient response and machine safety during treatment; evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate the patient before discharge.
Enable required safety alarms, including Narrow Venous Limits, and document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly.
Report significant patient information, condition changes, unusual findings, and vascular access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in CQI activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and promptly.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection control practices, follow infection control procedures, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and available treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordination of transition to the patient's selected modality, set up and perform treatments on TCU machines, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.