(Also see Nursing, Medical Assistant, Basic Nurse Assistant Training, and Person-Centered Elder Support)
Patient care technicians (PCT) work directly with patients assisting in the admission, transfer, and discharge of patients, while taking care of their basic needs and assisting with vital signs, EKG, and other procedures to facilitate patient care. PCTs work under the supervision of a nurse, doctor, or other health care professional. A PCT is qualified to work in high-demand, entry level positions at healthcare facilities, including hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home care agencies, and dialysis clinics. Patient Care Technician (PCT) Certificate completers gain skills in phlebotomy and are prepared and eligible for EKG Technician certification by examination. Those students who complete the PCT certificate, pass the certified nursing assistant competency exam, and a criminal background check will be entered as Certified Nursing Assistants on the Health Care Worker Registry.
Students who complete the PCT Certificate are eligible to take the National Healthcare Workers Association (NHCWA) Patient Care Technician Exam. Starting as a PCT provides a pathway to other health careers including phlebotomist, medical assistant, medical laboratory technician, and nursing. This certificate can be completed in one semester.
Patient Care Technician Certificate
16 Semester Credit Hours; Curriculum: 0331
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses for a Certificate | ||
| HIT 104 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| BNA 100 | Basic Nurse Assistant Training | 7 |
| PCT 101 | Patient Care Technician | 2 |
| MLT 107 | Phlebotomy | 4 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
Program Learning Outcomes
- Identify the role of a Patient Care Technician (PCT) as a member of the healthcare team.
- Describe the legal and ethical implications of patient testing and responsibilities of the PCT.
- Use effective communication skills with patients and staff.
- Apply principles of infection control in the health care setting.
- Demonstrate proficiency in clinical and laboratory skills, safety, and infection control policies/procedures in a safe manner according to established criteria.
- Demonstrate proper collection of blood.
- Perform accurate recordings for the electrical activity of the heart.
- Collect and document patient data.
Patient Care Technician Certificate Courses
Course presents medical terminology through study of medical word roots, prefixes and suffixes. Focus on relationships among symptomatic, disease, and procedural terms.
Course offers a basic study of principles and procedures used by the nurse assistant in long term care, home health settings and hospitals. Content focus is on basic human needs and care of the elderly. Integration of skills and concepts is acquired through hands-on clinical experience at local health care facilities. This course is approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Upon completion, students may apply to take the Illinois Nurse Assistant/Home Health Aide Competency Exam.
Fee: $175
Course covers skills and responsibilities of a patient care technician. Focuses on professionalism, communication, electrocardiography (ECG) procedures, phlebotomy procedures, safety standards and care. Integration of skills and concepts are acquired through hands-on clinical experience at local health care facilities/hospitals.
Course provides in-depth study of current phlebotomy techniques. Focus is on skills necessary to properly obtain blood specimens for laboratory testing. Content includes safety precautions, collection equipment, venipuncture and skin puncture techniques, and special collection procedures.
Fee: $60