Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Carrollton, GA

12d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role follows organizational policies, procedures, and training requirements, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities focused on patient satisfaction and quality goals. The position provides direct patient support throughout dialysis treatment, including preparing patients and equipment, assessing vascular access, initiating and monitoring treatment, responding to changes in patient condition, documenting care, and preparing patients for discharge. The technician also supports patient education, infection control, laboratory specimen handling, staff training, and—in transitional care units—coordination and education for newly admitted patients exploring dialysis modalities. The work includes desk and computer tasks as well as frequent patient interaction and direct care. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious diseases and materials. The role involves frequent, prolonged standing and bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting solutions and equipment. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may 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 to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
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, bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment, with assistance or material-handling devices available for heavier items.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education, as appropriate, on adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since the previous treatment.
Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weight and vital signs, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and intervene as prescribed or directed.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document procedures needed to discontinue treatment.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, assess patients before ending venous access, obtain standing and sitting blood pressure readings, achieve hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge and complete pre- and post-dialysis evaluations with initial identification.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
Document vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment information, and applicable progress notes accurately and promptly.
Report significant information, changes in condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy; document interventions and patient responses.
Monitor vascular-access pressures during treatment and provide, document, and report interventions or unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using the appropriate disinfectant and facility procedures.
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 organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis, document as required, perform machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document ongoing CQI activities.
Enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on missing or corrected entries by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for placement in the chart.
Prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens and ensure collection by the appropriate courier.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under the Center Manager’s direction or as allowed by state law.
In a Transitional Care Unit, 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 appropriate staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary visits.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Assist with coordination of the patient’s transition to their selected modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.