Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Conroe, TX

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 Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The PCT supports patients throughout dialysis treatment by welcoming and monitoring them, evaluating vascular access, obtaining and documenting vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, responding to treatment problems, and reporting significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes machine safety checks, treatment documentation, laboratory specimen handling, infection-control activities, equipment cleaning, and preparation of supplies and treatment areas. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT helps coordinate care for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, supports patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, helps coordinate transitions to a chosen modality, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The work includes desk and computer tasks, direct patient care, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The environment is characteristic of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials may occur. The role involves frequent, prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment within the stated limits.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable 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 continue employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification to continue employment.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment as described.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; 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 is preferred.

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, evaluate patients before termination of venous access, and achieve hemostasis with appropriate dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and complete pre- and post-dialysis assessments.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine settings, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, interventions, patient responses, and other treatment information in the required records and clinical application.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Clean blood spills promptly with 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.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain safe and clean areas and follow organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Prepare dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document ongoing CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure required signatures and corrections are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce patient and family education as directed and permitted by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary care.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them; demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup and explain treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities, and support TCU supply ordering and inventory.