Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care • Milford, MA

11d • $17 - $27 • Onsite

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 follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. The technician sets up and operates hemodialysis machines and helps maintain a safe, clean treatment environment. The position also supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), patient satisfaction, and process improvement activities.

The PCT supports patients before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, monitoring patients and equipment, documenting treatment information, responding to patient changes as directed, collecting laboratory specimens, and maintaining infection-control practices. The technician may also assist 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, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, helps patients transition to their chosen modality, and assists with supplies and inventory.

The position involves work in a health care facility, interaction with patients and clinical staff, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and direct patient care that includes lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, prolonged standing, and bending. The work may involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials. The employer requires an Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test 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 required state or CMS timeline.
• Hold any applicable state licensure and meet required 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 is dependent on successful completion.
• Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
• Ability to meet the position’s physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient ambulation and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally; heavier items may use two-person assistance or material-assist devices.
• 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 is preferred.

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 previous 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 evaluate vascular access before treatment.
• Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
• Evaluate intradialytic problems and intervene as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patient responses to therapy and interventions.
• Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document the steps required to discontinue treatment, including standing and sitting blood pressure checks and assessment before terminating venous access.
• Obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate patients before discharge.
• Calculate and enter prescribed patient machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
• Ensure required safety alarms, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160, are enabled; observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Accurately and promptly document vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment records, and, when applicable, progress notes; ensure required entries and signatures are complete or corrected by the appropriate staff.
• Report significant information, patient-condition changes, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
• Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as needed, document, and report unusual findings.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
• Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and follow facility policy.
• 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 business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
• Maintain safe, clean, and orderly environmental conditions; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
• Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
• Complete and document ongoing participation in CQI activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
• Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork for admission; prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
• 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 direction of the CM or designee as permitted by state law.
• Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
• Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as permitted by state law; liaise with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the plan.
• Help patients understand home-dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
• Travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses for bonus-eligible positions, depending on company and individual performance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED