What does a patient care technician do?
Patient care technicians are medical workers who work in clinics, hospitals, or other medical facilities under the supervision of doctors or other health professionals. They provide assistance to health professionals and patients. They help patients with mobility concerns get into hospital beds, bathrooms, wheelchairs, and more. They also help patients with their physical therapy sessions and other physical needs. They handle patient concerns and communicate these to attending physicians. They may be assigned to administer basic medical procedures such as checking vital signs and collecting samples from patients, among others.
Patient care technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real patient care technician resumes:
- Manage care and prepare medical records, transcription and supply orders.
- Manage daily care of high acuity patients with neurological trauma/disorders and post-surgery.
- Qualify to perform patient care responsibilities on catheter patients.
- Transport patients using wheelchairs and stretchers and assist patients to ambulate safely.
- Assist with transferring patients in and out of wheelchairs, recliners, and stretchers.
- Apply protective restraints safely and appropriately, assist in the admission, discharge and transfer of patients as needed.
- Preform EKG, wind dressing/cleaning, vital signs, providing assistance with BLS, secretarial duties, transporting patients.
- Take vital signs on patients, change patient bedding, assist with ADL's, monitor change in patient health and behavior
- Provide continuous arrhythmia monitoring of all patients requiring cardiac monitoring.
- Experience working with adult and geriatric medical surgical populations and oncology patients.
- Provide a caring and compassionate environment to oncology patients on an acuity adaptable unit.
- Position provides direct patient care limit to non-invasive procedures, unless specifically certify in phlebotomy.
- Make a positive impression on patients by showing compassion along with demonstrating a professional demeanor.
- Show compassion and empathy to patients and their family members during sometimes difficult and uncomfortable procedures.
- Develop adaptive strategies to demonstrate complex learning objectives to patients using effective problem solving and communication skills.
Patient care technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 24% of Patient Care Technicians are proficient in Patients, Vital Signs, and Phlebotomy. They’re also known for soft skills such as Observational skills, Patience, and Compassion.
We break down the percentage of Patient Care Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 24%
Managed medical/patient records for four pharmacies as well as counseled patients on medication interactions and insurance procedures.
- Vital Signs, 9%
Record accurate and timely information regarding vital signs and also be responsible for accurate documentation of findings.
- Phlebotomy, 7%
Position provides direct patient care limited to non-invasive procedures, unless specifically certified in phlebotomy.
- CPR, 6%
Committed to health and safety standards-Empathetic and approachable-Successful completion of PCT training program with certification is required CPR certified
- Direct Patient Care, 5%
Provided direct patient care on a 16-bed Intensive Psychiatric Treatment Unit and performed Psycho-Social evaluations for Emergency Department patients.
- Customer Service, 5%
Provided quality customer service by making patients feel comfortable during treatments while monitoring for medical complications and technical problems.
"patients," "vital signs," and "phlebotomy" are among the most common skills that patient care technicians use at work. You can find even more patient care technician responsibilities below, including:
Observational skills. One of the key soft skills for a patient care technician to have is observational skills. You can see how this relates to what patient care technicians do because "psychiatric technicians and aides must watch patients closely and be sensitive to changes in behavior." Additionally, a patient care technician resume shows how patient care technicians use observational skills: "monitor vital signs, intake/output and report observational changes to nurse perform finger stick and glucose levels check direct patient care"
Patience. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling patient care technician duties is patience. The role rewards competence in this skill because "working with people who have mental, emotional, or developmental conditions may be challenging." According to a patient care technician resume, here's how patient care technicians can utilize patience in their job responsibilities: "communicate effectively with patients for the best quality care with patience, assertiveness, and compassion. "
Compassion. patient care technicians are also known for compassion, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to patient care technician responsibilities, because "psychiatric technicians and aides spend much of their time interacting with patients who have mental, emotional, or developmental conditions." A patient care technician resume example shows how compassion is used in the workplace: "reacted calmly and compassionately in emergency situations to put patients at ease. "
Physical stamina. patient care technician responsibilities often require "physical stamina." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "psychiatric technicians and aides must lift, move, and sometimes restrain patients." This resume example shows what patient care technicians do with physical stamina on a typical day: "assist physical and occupational therapists during patient treatment, e.g. "
Interpersonal skills. Another common skill required for patient care technician responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." This skill comes up in the duties of patient care technicians all the time, as "psychiatric technicians and aides may want to develop a rapport with patients in order to properly care for them." An excerpt from a real patient care technician resume shows how this skill is central to what a patient care technician does: "required a high level of interpersonal and communicative skills, professionalism, compassion and compliance. "
The three companies that hire the most patient care technicians are:
- Fresenius Medical Care Windsor, LLC2,098 patient care technicians jobs
- Fresenius Medical Care North America Holdings Limited Partnership1,961 patient care technicians jobs
- CarolinaEast904 patient care technicians jobs
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Compare different patient care technicians
Patient care technician vs. Patient sitter
The primary job of a patient sitter is to provide patients with care and companionship. You will be responsible for a few duties that always include supervising patients, assisting them with basic personal hygiene and care, and monitoring their vital signs. As a patient sitter, you are expected to refrain from doing unauthorized or additional functions, identifying changes in patient's conditions, and maintaining patient information confidentiality. You are also expected to comply with relevant standards, procedures, and policies.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, patient care technician responsibilities require skills like "phlebotomy," "direct patient care," "patient treatment," and "medical equipment." Meanwhile a typical patient sitter has skills in areas such as "bls," "patient observation," "continuous observation," and "direct observation." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Patient sitters earn the highest salaries when working in the health care industry, with an average yearly salary of $29,697. On the other hand, patient care technicians are paid more in the health care industry with an average salary of $32,238.The education levels that patient sitters earn slightly differ from patient care technicians. In particular, patient sitters are 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a patient care technician. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Patient care technician vs. Patient escort
A patient escort assists health care staff in providing patient care by managing a patient's immediate needs. Typical duties that you will perform include organizing and coordinating the transport of patients, assisting patients in personal hygiene such as dressing and bathing, and engaging with patients. As a patient escort, you are expected to create good relationships with patients by treating them with dignity and respect. You may also provide support services such as restocking supplies and changing linens.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real patient care technician resumes. While patient care technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "phlebotomy," "direct patient care," "direct supervision," and "patient treatment," patient escorts use skills like "patient transport," "reception desk," "osha," and "transport equipment."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Patient escorts tend to reach similar levels of education than patient care technicians. In fact, they're 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for patient care technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Michael Williams Ph.D.
Director and Associate Professor, Eastern Michigan University
The electronic health record (EHR) integration continues to build in decision aids and artificial intelligence for making better decisions. The EHR has made accessing patient information more available to other practitioners and patients themselves. Another technology that will continue to expand in use is a point of care testing (POC). POC allows for greater flexibility to meet the patient wherever they are, and will see continued expansion. And perhaps, the technology that has indeed expanded, out of necessity during the pandemic, is telehealth.
While telehealth has been available for many years, particularly in rural areas, it wasn't nearly as common in high population areas--patients were expected to go to the provider. Telehealth can eliminate many unnecessary "non-emergency" visits to emergency rooms and can be available, quite easily, in off-hours.
Patient care technician vs. Behavioral health technician
A behavioral health technician participates in treating patients with behavioral problems caused by mental health issues. They are primarily responsible for monitoring the behavior of the patient, following the guidelines of treatment from a mental health professional, and regularly reporting any progress or problems. Moreover, a behavioral health technician must also carry out administrative tasks, which include producing reports and assessments, answering inquiries and correspondence, maintaining schedules, and keeping records. Furthermore, it is essential to give emotional support to a patient, providing them with a safe and healthy environment at all times.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a patient care technician is likely to be skilled in "phlebotomy," "customer service," "direct supervision," and "patient rooms," while a typical behavioral health technician is skilled in "behavioral health," "crisis intervention," "social work," and "substance abuse."
Behavioral health technicians earn the best pay in the non profits industry, where they command an average salary of $36,944. Patient care technicians earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $32,238.When it comes to education, behavioral health technicians tend to earn higher degree levels compared to patient care technicians. In fact, they're 5.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Patient care technician vs. Hemodialysis technician
Types of patient care technician
Updated January 8, 2025
