Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Camp Hill, PA

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 involves setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting patient care and education, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and participating in quality improvement activities in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, supports prescribed dialysis treatments, records treatment data, responds to patient needs and unusual findings, and reports changes in condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining accurate patient records, conducting machine and safety checks, and following infection-control procedures. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with other staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with supplies and inventory. The position includes direct patient care and physical activity, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and work in a health care facility environment.

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.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy as part of the health care team under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.
Set up and operate hemodialysis machines and conduct required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing.
Welcome assigned patients, ask about their wellbeing, obtain pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform patient and vascular access evaluations.
Cannulate vascular access and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, evaluate patients before discharge, and document treatment evaluations and patient responses.
Accurately record vital signs, treatment parameters, interventions, and other patient treatment information in the required records and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange collection of laboratory specimens according to requirements.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy, including vascular access pressure monitoring during treatment.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Follow infection-control policies, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, assist with infection-control audits, and reinforce infection-control education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities and support the organization's Quality Enhancement Program.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
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 matters for new patients, liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines see patients according to plan.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with coordinating transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and customer service standards.