Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Las Vegas, NV

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 includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including initiatives related to patient satisfaction and process improvement. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, obtains and records vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and facility procedures, and documents treatment information. The technician monitors patients’ responses, reports changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor, performs prescribed interventions within delegated authority, and collects and prepares laboratory specimens. Duties also include machine safety checks, cleaning and disinfecting equipment and treatment areas, maintaining supplies, and supporting infection-control practices. In a Transitional Care Unit, the PCT helps coordinate care and education for newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis. This includes reinforcing information about treatment and home dialysis options, coordinating with facility staff, supporting transitions to a chosen modality, operating machines used in the unit, and assisting with supply inventory and ordering. The role involves patient interaction and direct care in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings. Work may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials. Physical duties include frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting solutions and equipment within the stated limits. Employees must take an Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Meet applicable 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.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Able to perform the stated physical duties, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting solutions or equipment as described.
Able to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting 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 and within state law.
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- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including required initial identification and 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 goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate and address intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant information or changes to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatments according to established procedures, assess patients before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, patient evaluations, interventions and patient responses, and other treatment information accurately and promptly on required records and clinical applications.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures; intervene as needed, document findings, and report unusual results.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using the appropriate disinfectant and follow facility infection-control policies and procedures.
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.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; 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, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, and support patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed 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, liaise with appropriate facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care, and assist patients in understanding home dialysis products and options.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit; assist with understanding treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordinating transition to the patient’s chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.