Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Annapolis, MD

11d • $17 - $28

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 corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities to support patient satisfaction and quality goals.

The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, cannulating access and administering heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, initiating and discontinuing treatment, monitoring patient responses, recording treatment information, and reporting changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also includes specimen collection and preparation, machine and environment preparation and disinfection, infection-control support, and accurate recordkeeping.

In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education as permitted by state law, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patients’ understanding of treatment and home dialysis options, and assists with transitions to a chosen modality and with unit supplies and inventory.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
• Hold any state licensure and complete education and training required for the role.
• Demonstrate commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
• Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
• Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent 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 direct patient-care duties involving frequent and prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and assistance with ambulation.
• Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices or coworkers may help with heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• 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 record pre- and post-treatment weight and vital signs, evaluate vascular access before treatment, and perform required pre- and post-dialysis assessments with initial identification.
• Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow, and program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
• Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
• Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; assess patients before termination of venous access and discharge; obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
• Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, patient responses, and other treatment information accurately and promptly, including treatment sheets and applicable progress notes.
• Report significant information, changes in condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access monitoring findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and follow 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, systems, and ethical business practices.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect the dialysis machine, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis and document as appropriate; perform required pre-treatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
• Participate in and document ongoing CQI activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in 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 and admission 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 infection-control education as directed and 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 information for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and how home dialysis may work for them; assist with demonstration of peritoneal dialysis setup.
• Set up and perform a treatment on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
• Assist with coordination of transition to the patient’s chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses for bonus-eligible positions, depending on company and individual performance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED