Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Cicero, IL

3d•$18 - $27

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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, supporting a safe and clean environment, following organizational procedures and applicable regulations, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and quality goals. The technician provides direct patient support before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include assessing vascular access, taking and recording vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatments as prescribed, monitoring patients and equipment, responding to intradialytic issues as directed, documenting treatment information, and reporting changes in patient condition to a nurse or supervisor. The role also involves specimen collection and preparation, infection control, machine and area cleaning, and maintaining treatment records. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician supports newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, demonstrates treatment options as appropriate, and assists with equipment setup and supply inventory. The position involves desk and computer work as well as regular direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and physical tasks such as prolonged standing, bending, moving patients, and lifting supplies and solutions.

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 as a condition of continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.
Pass 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 direct patient care tasks involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, moving and assisting patients, and lifting and lowering supplies or solutions; the posting specifies frequent lifting up to 30 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations within the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations.
Set up and operate hemodialysis machines and calculate and enter prescribed patient machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, cannulate access, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access pressures during treatment.
Obtain and document pre-, intradialytic, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate patients before, during, and after treatment.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, including conducting required safety checks and documenting treatment parameters.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and observe patients while conducting machine safety checks.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Clean blood spills promptly and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste, and maintain a safe and clean work environment.
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.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and arrange for omitted entries to be completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare lab requisitions, and coordinate specimen collection by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education as directed and permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and help coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients, liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with coordination of transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.