Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Lapeer, MI

10d

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, helping maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities, including patient-satisfaction and process-improvement efforts. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, obtains and documents pre- and post-treatment measurements, evaluates vascular access, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and facility procedures, monitors patient responses, and reports significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes operating and checking dialysis equipment, preparing and processing laboratory specimens, maintaining accurate treatment records, supporting infection-control practices, and helping train applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, assists with modality transitions, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The work includes desk and personal computer tasks, interaction with patients and clinical staff, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to meetings. The setting is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious materials may occur. Patient care involves frequent and prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation. Employees may need to push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift or lower solutions weighing 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. Reasonable accommodations may be considered. An Ishihara color-vision test is required as a condition of employment; failing it does not automatically preclude employment, and accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
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.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program for continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification for continued employment.
Pass the required Ishihara color-vision test as a condition of employment; the posting states that failing the test does not automatically preclude employment and that accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the described physical duties, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, and handling solutions and equipment.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility.

Responsibilities

Assist 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.
Evaluate 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, perform vascular-access evaluations, and complete patient identification and dialysis evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patient responses and intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform vascular-access monitoring during treatment, including arterial and venous pressure monitoring, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Complete accurate and timely treatment documentation, including treatment sheets, progress notes where applicable, and clinical application entries; review sheets for completeness and follow up on omitted or incorrect entries with appropriate staff.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste; complete dialysis preparation tasks, machine alarm testing, and Solution Delivery System initiation.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and infection-control requirements; help collect information for infection-control audits and reinforce infection-control education under appropriate direction.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, prepare laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
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, coordinate with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled services, and help patients understand home dialysis and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate, assist with transitions to the patient’s chosen modality, and help coordinate supply ordering and inventory.