Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•New Albany, MS

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe, effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role involves setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting patients throughout treatment, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and complying with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The PCT also supports Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including initiatives focused on patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, assesses vascular access, obtains pre- and post-treatment measurements, initiates and discontinues prescribed dialysis treatments, monitors patient responses, and reports significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role includes accurate treatment documentation, specimen collection and preparation, machine and safety checks, infection-control practices, and assistance with patient education and staff training under appropriate 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, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, assists with modality transitions, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The work includes computer and desk tasks, direct interaction with patients and health care staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. The employee may be exposed to infectious materials and must be able to perform patient-care activities involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. Ishihara color-vision testing is required as a condition of employment; failure does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or G.E.D.
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.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Pass the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient-care duties that regularly involve heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as 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, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess 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 perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and document responses.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, intervene as needed, and report unusual findings.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and other patient-care information accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Report significant information and changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange appropriate courier collection of specimens.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
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 machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare machines for treatment, perform required pretreatment alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure missing or incorrect entries are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork and prepare laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control procedures, and reinforce patient and family 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 as allowed by state law and coordinate with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled care.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products, the benefits of home treatment, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community, and attend regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings when required.