Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Stillwater, OK

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of the 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 work environment, and participating in quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and organizational quality goals. The PCT supports patient education and care within the scope permitted by state law and organizational policy. The PCT welcomes patients, assesses their wellbeing and vascular access, collects pre- and post-treatment measurements, initiates and monitors dialysis according to prescribed orders, responds to treatment-related concerns as directed, and documents care accurately. The role also includes specimen collection and preparation, equipment checks and disinfection, infection-control support, maintaining supplies, and assisting with training of applicable direct-care staff under nurse supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports understanding of treatment options and home dialysis, and helps coordinate transitions to a selected modality. The position involves work in a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and other locations in the community; regional, business unit, and corporate meeting travel may also be required. The role requires a high school diploma or GED, applicable state or national certification within required timelines, and any required state licensure, education, and training. Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program and CPR certification. Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility is preferred.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Hold any state licensure and complete any education and training required for the role.
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 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 involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assistance with ambulation.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices or coworkers may be available for heavier items.
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.

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 last 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, weights, and vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and monitor patient response to therapy.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform the procedures and documentation needed to discontinue treatment.
Obtain hemostasis, apply appropriate dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Accurately and promptly document treatment parameters, patient information, interventions, and patient responses in required records and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as appropriate, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and prepare 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.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by the appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare lab requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, and reinforce patient and family infection-control education as directed.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, coordinate with facility staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure disciplines see patients according to the care plan.
Support patient understanding of home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Assist with coordination of transition to the patient's chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.