Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Staples, MN

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe, effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean clinical environment, and participating in quality improvement activities aimed at improving patient satisfaction and outcomes. No dialysis-specific experience is required; comprehensive on-the-job training is provided. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients throughout dialysis treatment, evaluates vascular access, obtains vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues treatment according to orders and procedures, documents treatment information, and reports changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes preparing and collecting laboratory specimens, cleaning and disinfecting equipment and treatment areas, supporting infection control, and assisting with patient education and transitional dialysis care. The position is based at the clinic at 403 Prairie Ave NE, Staples, MN 56479. Clinic hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 4:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday 4:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.; closed Sunday. Workdays and shifts rotate, typically in 9–12-hour shifts. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Must have any applicable state licensure, education, and training required for the position.
Demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Continued employment is dependent on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform work involving frequent, prolonged standing and bending; direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting 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 and material-handling devices are available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Enable appropriate safety alarms, including Narrow Venous Limits, and observe patients while conducting machine safety checks.
Monitor patient responses and vascular access during treatment, identify intradialytic problems, intervene as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to procedures, evaluate patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment sheets, progress notes, and designated clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, 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 to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in 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 environment and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, complete required machine alarm tests 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 incorrect entries are addressed 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, follow infection-control policies, support staff and patient adherence, and reinforce infection-control education under direction as permitted by state law.
For the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care; reinforce education, coordinate staff visits, support patient understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, set up and perform treatments on TCU machines, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, help coordinate the patient’s modality choice, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.