The Role of the Patient Care Technician

Flashcards covering the roles, responsibilities, settings, care team members, and professional qualities of a Patient Care Technician.

Patient Care Technician (PCT)

Skilled healthcare workers who perform assigned tasks such as measuring vital signs and providing or assisting with personal care; they may also draw blood, perform simple tests, and conduct EKGs.

Electrocardiograms (EKGs)

A test of heart electrical activity.

Long-term care (LTC)

Care given in long-term care facilities for people who need 24-hour skilled care.

Point-of-care tests

A test that can be performed at the patient’s bedside, such as fingerstick blood glucose testing.

Charting

Documenting information and observations about patients.

Inpatient facility

Facilities, including traditional hospitals, where patients spend at least 1 night while receiving care.

Outpatient facility

Medical offices, urgent care clinics, specialty clinics, and same-day surgery centers.

Assisted living facility

Residence for people who do not need 24-hour skilled care, but do require some help with daily care.

Home health care

Health care that is provided in a person’s home.

Dementia

A general term that refers to a serious, progressive loss of mental abilities such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating.

Registered Nurse (RN)

Licensed healthcare professional who coordinates, manages, and provides skilled nursing care.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

A licensed healthcare professional who administers medications and gives treatments.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

Includes four types: Nurse practitioner (NP), Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified nurse midwife (CNM), and clinical nurse specialist (CNS); they can make diagnoses and prescribe medication.

Physician or Doctor (MD or DO)

A licensed healthcare professional who diagnoses disease or disability and prescribes treatment and medication.

Physician Assistant (PA)

A licensed healthcare professional who works together with a doctor to diagnose and prescribe medication and/or treatments.

Pharmacists (RPh)

Licensed healthcare professional who prepares and dispenses prescribed medications.

Physical Therapist (PT or DPT)

A licensed healthcare professional who evaluates a person and develops a treatment plan to increase movement, improve circulation, promote healing, reduce pain, prevent disability and regain or maintain mobility.

Occupational Therapist (OT)

A licensed healthcare professional who helps patients to learn to adapt to a disability.

Person-centered care

A type of care that places the emphasis on the person needing care and the person’s individuality and capabilities.

Chain of command

The line of authority within a facility.

Liability

A legal term that means someone can be held responsible for harming someone else.

Scope of practice

The roles, responsibilities, and procedures that are within the knowledge, training, and legal definition of a profession.

Delegation

Transferring responsibility to a person for a specific task.

Professional

Having to do with work or a job.

Personal

Relating to life outside one’s job, such as family, friends, and home life.

Professionalism

The act of behaving properly when working.

Policy

A course of action that should be taken every time a certain situation occurs.

Confidential

Private.

Procedure

A method, or way, of doing something.

Empathy

Identifying with the feelings of others.

Sympathy

Sharing in the feelings and difficulties of others.

Compassionate

Being caring, concerned, considerate, empathetic, and understanding.

Tactful

Showing sensitivity and having a sense of what is appropriate when dealing with others.

Conscientious

Guided by a sense of right and wrong; principled.

Continuing education (CE)

In health care, education that keeps healthcare workers up-to-date on changes that affect their jobs.