Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Ybor City, FL

12d

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 follows organization policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The PCT sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean working environment, and participates in quality-enhancement and continuous-quality-improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and outcomes. 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 established procedures, and responds to treatment-related concerns as directed. The role includes operating and checking dialysis equipment, documenting treatment parameters and patient responses, collecting laboratory specimens, supporting infection-control practices, and maintaining accurate patient records. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with other staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with transition planning, supplies, and inventory.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Hold any state licensure and complete education or training required for the role.
Demonstrate commitment to organization culture, values, and customer-service standards.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete 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 may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment.

Nice To Haves

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

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 previous treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, intra-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including initial patient identification and pre-treatment vascular access evaluation.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients' responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide or document interventions as prescribed or directed.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures; evaluate patients before termination and discharge; obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and report unusual findings.
Record treatment parameters, vital signs, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in the required treatment records and clinical applications.
Report significant information or changes in a patient's condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization 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 treatments, perform required pretreatment machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document participation in 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 for admission and placement in the chart.
Prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control practices, follow infection-control procedures, and participate in patient and family infection-control education under appropriate direction.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as allowed by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary care.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordination of transitions to the patient's chosen modality, and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.