Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Kansas City, KS

30d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) is part of the dialysis health care team and provides safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. It includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities focused on patient outcomes and satisfaction. The PCT supports patients before, during, and after treatment by assessing their wellbeing and vascular access, obtaining vital signs and weights, initiating and discontinuing dialysis as prescribed, monitoring treatment and patient response, addressing problems as directed, documenting care, collecting laboratory specimens, and reporting changes in condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes equipment preparation and cleaning, safety checks, infection-control practices, recordkeeping, and participation in staff training under nursing supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education as permitted by state law, coordinates care with appropriate staff, supports patient understanding of home dialysis and treatment options, assists with modality transitions, and helps manage supplies and inventory. The job involves direct patient care in a health care facility, interaction with patients and clinical staff, and travel between assigned facilities and community locations. Physical work includes frequent prolonged standing, bending, moving and assisting patients, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable 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 will be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment up to the stated limits.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and under applicable supervision.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre-, during-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including the relevant pre- and post-treatment evaluations.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis according to prescribed orders and established procedures, including machine programming and safety alarm settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and report changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge and before termination of venous access.
Document treatment parameters, patient assessments, interventions, and responses accurately and promptly in the required records and clinical applications.
Perform patient and machine safety checks and monitor vascular access pressures during treatment.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas according to facility policy.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment efficiently, and assist with supply ordering and inventory in the Transitional Care Unit.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Follow organization policies, procedures, ethical business practices, and infection-control requirements; support infection-control audits and education as directed.
Maintain a safe, clean, and appropriate care environment and participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness and signatures, address omitted entries through appropriate staff, and prepare patient charts and laboratory requisitions.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow new patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, coordinate their care and scheduled services, reinforce education, explain home dialysis and treatment options, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transition to the patient's selected modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.