Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Baton Rouge, LA

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) is part of the dialysis health care team and provides safe, 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 enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities that support patient satisfaction and organizational goals. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated heparin administration where permitted, obtains and records vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments, monitors patients’ responses, and responds to treatment issues as directed. The role also includes dialysis machine safety checks and programming, documentation of treatment and patient information, reporting changes in patient condition, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, and supporting infection-control practices. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, supports understanding of treatment options and home dialysis, and assists with transition to the patient’s chosen modality. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations and may require travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work environment is a health care facility, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. The work involves direct patient care, frequent prolonged standing, bending, and regular heavy lifting and moving of patients, with assistance or material-handling devices available when needed.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Meet applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to maintain employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification to maintain 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 and bending, and regular lifting and moving of patients, with assistance or material-assist devices available.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet.

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.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access 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 perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluation.
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 required safety alarms are enabled.
Monitor patient response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, achieve hemostasis, apply dressings, evaluate patients before treatment termination and discharge, and document relevant findings.
Complete accurate and timely treatment documentation, including treatment sheets, progress notes where applicable, clinical application entries, and required corrections or follow-up on omitted entries.
Perform and document machine safety checks and pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and coordinate collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using the appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare and efficiently use supplies and equipment, and assist with supply ordering and inventory for the Transitional Care Unit.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on programs under nurse supervision.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly work areas and follow organizational policies, procedures, systems, ethical business practices, and infection-control practices.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities and assist with infection-control audits and education for patients and families as directed and permitted by state law.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, review treatment sheets for completeness, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care with appropriate staff and disciplines.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, support understanding of home dialysis products and treatment options, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate, and assist with transition to the chosen modality.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations and, if required, to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings.