Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Fort Wayne, IN

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 follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, along with applicable state and federal regulations. No dialysis experience is required; paid, hands-on training is provided. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean working environment, and participates in quality improvement activities focused on patient outcomes and satisfaction. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including preparing and monitoring equipment, assessing patients and vascular access, documenting treatment information, collecting laboratory specimens, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The technician also supports infection-control practices, helps educate patients, and assists with transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients, including education about treatment options and home dialysis. The work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and health care staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. Regional, business-unit, and corporate meeting travel may be required. The health care work environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. The role regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, and bending. Occasional pushing or pulling of equipment may require up to 15 pounds of force; frequent lifting and lowering of solutions may involve up to 30 pounds, with occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Equipment, coworkers, and assist devices may be used for heavier items. An Ishihara color-vision test is required as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services-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; continued employment depends on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment depends on successful completion.
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 the described physical demands, including direct patient care, lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, prolonged standing, and bending.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education with other health care team members about adequacy measures, disease processes, and access as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access for patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and intervene as prescribed or directed.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures; obtain vital signs before reinfusion, achieve hemostasis, apply 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 conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of laboratory specimens according to requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectant and 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.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare and print laboratory requisitions.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, and reinforce infection-control education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as allowed by state law and liaise with facility staff to coordinate the patient experience and scheduled discipline visits.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the transitional care unit, assist with transitions to the patient’s chosen modality, and help coordinate transitional-care supply ordering and inventory.