Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Hamilton, OH

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, as well as applicable state and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and participates in Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including process improvements related to patient satisfaction and quality goals. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, performs vascular-access and treatment-related tasks within delegated authority and applicable law, operates dialysis equipment according to prescribed orders, records treatment information, and reports significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The position also supports patient education, laboratory specimen handling, infection-control practices, staff training, and transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients. Duties include following new patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and helping them understand treatment options, including home dialysis. The work includes desk and computer tasks and frequent interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work takes place in a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, and prolonged standing and bending. The employee may occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift or lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. A high school diploma or GED is required. The employee must meet applicable CMS-approved state or national certification requirements within the required timeline and satisfy any applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements. Continued employment depends on successfully completing the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification. Previous patient-care experience in a hospital or related facility is preferred. 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 applicable CMS-approved state 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 to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Ability to perform the described essential functions, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions as described.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

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 last treatment.
Provide or reinforce patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, vascular access, infection control, and treatment options as permitted by state law and under appropriate supervision.
Evaluate 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, perform vascular-access evaluations, and complete patient evaluations before and after treatment.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures, including programming blood flow, dialysate flow, ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Monitor patient responses to dialysis, assess and intervene in intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform reinfusion and treatment-discontinuation tasks, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and assess patients before discharge.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled, conduct machine safety checks and pretreatment alarm testing, and report unusual findings.
Document vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment evaluations, interventions, and other patient-care information accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, collect, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
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.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly areas and follow organizational policies, procedures, business systems, and ethical practices.
Participate in and document CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on missing or corrected entries with appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies and procedures, and reinforce related education under the direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
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 transition to the patient’s chosen modality, and help coordinate TCU supplies and inventory.