Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Lower Merion Township, PA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities. The PCT welcomes patients, monitors their condition and response to treatment, performs and documents pre-, during-, and post-treatment assessments, and reports significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes vascular-access care, treatment setup and discontinuation, machine safety checks, laboratory specimen handling, documentation, infection-control practices, and support for patient education and self-care. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT supports newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, demonstrates treatment options, and assists with equipment and supply management. This float position requires travel between assigned facilities and other locations in the community. The work takes place in a health care facility and includes direct patient care and physical demands such as lifting, moving, and assisting patients.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet 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 to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Take 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 duties involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and moving, and assistance with ambulation.
Ability to push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force occasionally; 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 used for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assist with patient education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate and within state law.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, and perform vascular-access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and perform machine safety checks.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, identify intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and document patient responses.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures; obtain required vital signs, assess patients before discharge, achieve hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Document treatment parameters, assessments, interventions, and other required information accurately and promptly in treatment 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 and intervene, document, and report unusual findings as appropriate.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using the appropriate disinfectant and facility procedures.
Prepare 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, and orderly environment; clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis treatments, perform required pretreatment 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, verify required nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce adherence to infection-control practices, and participate in patient and family infection-control education under appropriate direction.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure planned disciplines see the patient.
Help patients understand 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 the transition to the patient’s chosen modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.