Patient Care Technician - PCT

About the Role

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team in providing safe and effective dialysis therapy for patients under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. Responsible for the setup and operation of hemodialysis machines, maintenance of a safe and clean working environment, and support of the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.

Responsibilities

• Patient Education: Assist in providing patient-specific education on adequacy measures (e.g., Online Clearance Monitoring, Adequacy Monitoring Program, Urea Kinetic Modeling) and disease process/access.
• Treatment:
  • Welcome patients, evaluate well-being, and assess vascular access for patency.
  • Perform cannulation, heparin administration (as delegated), and obtain pre/post-treatment vital signs and weight.
  • Initiate and monitor dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders (blood flow, dialysate flow).
  • Evaluate and intervene in intradialytic problems as directed.
  • Obtain vital signs prior to reinfusion, discontinue treatment, and evaluate patient prior to discharge.
  • Calculate and program dialysis machine settings (Ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, UF modeling).
  • Enable safety alarms (e.g., Narrow Venous Limits) and document treatment parameters accurately.
  • Respond to unusual patient status, document interventions, and report changes to the registered nurse.
  • Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment and intervene as needed.
  • Obtain prescribed laboratory testing, prepare specimens, and ensure proper handling of blood spills.
  • Organize and utilize supplies/equipment efficiently to prevent wastage.
  • Supervise patients performing self-care under RN guidance.
• Staff Support: Assist in training direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
• Infection Control:
  • Collect data for infection control audits and reinforce adherence to infection control practices.
  • Follow and promote infection control policies and procedures.
  • Participate in patient/family education on infection control under direction of the Clinical Manager.
• Transitional Care Unit (TCU):
  • Coordinate care for newly admitted patients during their first 4 weeks of dialysis.
  • Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as allowed by state law.
  • Liaise with Fresenius staff to ensure scheduled visits and optimal patient experience.
  • Educate patients on home dialysis products and benefits.
  • Set up and perform treatments on all TCU machines.
  • Assist in demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup and transitioning patients to their chosen modality.
  • Manage supply ordering and inventory for the TCU.
• Record Keeping:
  • Document participation in CQI activities and enter treatment data accurately and timely.
  • Review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure nursing signatures are documented.
  • Prepare patient charts for admission and compile necessary paperwork.
  • Prepare/print lab requisitions and ensure proper collection, labeling, and storage of specimens.
• Environmental Maintenance:
  • Maintain a safe, clean, and organized work environment.
  • Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
  • Perform pretreatment dialysis machine alarm testing (e.g., Pressure Holding Test).
  • Initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).

Requirements

• High School diploma or G.E.D. required.
• Must meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required timeline.
• All appropriate state licensure, education, and training (if any) required.
• Demonstrated commitment to organization culture, values, and customer service standards.
• Previous patient care experience in a hospital or related facility preferred.
• Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification required for continued employment.
• Must pass Ishihara’s Color Blindness test (reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities).

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• Regular interaction with patients, staff, and physicians, including desk and computer work.
• Travel between assigned facilities and community locations; occasional travel to regional/Business Unit/Corporate meetings.
• Work environment is temperature-controlled with moderate noise levels; exposure to infectious/contagious diseases/materials.
• Frequent, prolonged standing and bending; occasional pushing/pulling of equipment (up to 15 lbs of force).
• Regular heavy lifting/moving of patients and assisting with ambulation (equipment aids/coworkers may assist).
• Frequent lifting/lowering of solutions (up to 30 lbs); occasional lifting up to 40 lbs (as high as 5 feet) with two-person assist or material assist devices.