Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•La Grande, OR

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe, 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 technician 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 that support patient satisfaction and quality goals. The PCT assists with patient education and care before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Responsibilities include assessing vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, monitoring patient condition and treatment response, recording treatment information, and promptly reporting significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes laboratory specimen handling, infection-control practices, machine and equipment preparation, and accurate clinical documentation. In a Transitional Care Unit, the PCT helps coordinate care and reinforce education for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis. This includes supporting understanding of treatment options and home dialysis, assisting with transitions to a chosen modality, and helping coordinate appointments, supplies, and inventory. The position involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and work in a health care environment where exposure to infectious materials may occur. It requires frequent standing and bending, and regular lifting and moving of patients with assistance as needed. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable 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.
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.
Ability to perform direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation, with equipment or coworker assistance as needed.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using 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.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members with patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including patient identification, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Monitor patients and evaluate intradialytic problems; provide prescribed or directed interventions and document patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to established procedures; assess the patient before discharge and evaluate venous access, including standing and sitting blood pressure.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, and other patient-care information accurately and promptly on treatment sheets and, when applicable, progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills immediately with 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 a nurse's supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe, clean environment and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document CQI activities; enter treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and promptly.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and have omitted entries completed or corrected by the appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare or print requisitions for prescribed or stat laboratory specimens.
Ensure laboratory specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
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 education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted 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 as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure visits are scheduled according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and attend regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings when required.