Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Canton, IL

16d • $14 - $23

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician is part of the dialysis health care team and provides 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 the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), and process-improvement activities intended to support patient satisfaction and quality goals.

The technician welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated or legally permitted heparin administration, obtains and records vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues treatment, and responds to treatment-related issues under physician orders or nurse direction. Responsibilities also include machine programming and safety checks, documenting treatment and interventions, collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining supplies and equipment, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor.

The role supports staff training, infection-control practices, treatment documentation, and patient education. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician helps coordinate the first four weeks of dialysis care for new patients, reinforces education, supports discussion of treatment modalities and home dialysis, assists with transitions to a selected modality, and helps manage supplies and inventory.

The work involves patient and staff interaction, computer and desk work, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The healthcare-facility environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care involves frequent prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assisting with ambulation. The role may require pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; 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 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.
• Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program to remain employed.
• Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
• 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 the described physical functions, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions as specified.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Provide patient-specific education, as appropriate, about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
• Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
• Assess vascular access for patency; cannulate access and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, with initial patient identification, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
• Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
• Calculate and enter prescribed patient dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and UF modeling.
• Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and document interventions and responses.
• Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, evaluate the patient before termination of venous access, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
• Evaluate patients before discharge and document treatment evaluations, parameters, vital signs, weights, and other required information accurately and promptly.
• Report significant information, changes in condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as appropriate, document, and report unusual findings.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, and store specimens according to laboratory requirements; prepare requisitions and ensure courier collection.
• 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 with training applicable direct patient-care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
• Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
• Maintain safe and clean areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis treatments, document as required, perform pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
• Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly into 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 compile paperwork for appropriate placement in the chart.
• Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and support patient and family education under the Center Manager's direction 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 coordinate the patient experience and appointments with disciplines according to the plan.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and the potential role of home dialysis; demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
• Assist in coordinating the transition to the patient's chosen modality and in ordering and inventorying TCU supplies.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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