Patient Care Technician

Program Description

The Registered Patient Care Technician (RPTC) Program is a comprehensive didactic, laboratory, and clinical training program designed to prepare students for entry-level employment as Patient Care Technicians and to meet the eligibility requirements for the American Medical Technologists (AMT) Registered Patient Care Technician (RPTC) certification examination. The program provides structured classroom instruction combined with hands-on laboratory training and supervised clinical experience to ensure competency in direct patient care procedures, vital signs measurement, infection control, electrocardiography (ECG), specimen collection, patient safety, mobility assistance, and professional conduct in healthcare environments. Graduates of this program will be prepared to work safely and effectively in hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, diagnostic centers, and other healthcare settings.

Program Objectives

Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate professional behavior and effective communication in healthcare environments
2. Apply principles of anatomy and physiology related to patient care
3. Perform and accurately record vital signs
4. Assist patients with activities of daily living (ADLs)
5. Apply infection control, OSHA, and HIPAA regulations
6. Perform electrocardiogram (ECG) procedures
7. Assist with specimen collection and handling procedures
8. Demonstrate proper patient identification and safety protocols
9. Assist with patient mobility, positioning, and transport
10. Perform proper documentation and reporting procedures
11. Recognize and respond appropriately to patient emergencies
12. Prepare for successful completion of the AMT RPTC certification examination

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Minimum age of 18 years
• Government-issued photo identification
• Ability to read, write, and understand English
• Criminal background check and drug screening (if required by clinical affiliates)
• Proof of required immunizations (if required by clinical affiliates)

Program Length and Hour Requirements

This program meets or exceeds AMT educational route requirements.

• Classroom (Didactic) Instruction
• Laboratory Skills Training
• Supervised Clinical Experience

Clinical training is performed under direct supervision in an approved healthcare facility and includes hands-on patient care procedures and competency verification.

Curriculum Outline

1. Introduction to Patient Care Technician
   1. Role and responsibilities of the Patient Care Technician
   2. Healthcare team structure
   3. Professional ethics and conduct
2. Medical Terminology
   1. Medical prefixes, suffixes, and root words
   2. Common healthcare abbreviations
3. Anatomy and Physiology
   1. Cardiovascular system
   2. Respiratory system
   3. Musculoskeletal system
   4. Nervous system
   5. Integumentary system
4. Infection Control and Safety
   1. Standard precautions
   2. Transmission-based precautions
   3. OSHA regulations
   4. Bloodborne pathogens
   5. Personal protective equipment (PPE)
5. Vital Signs
   1. Temperature measurement
   2. Pulse assessment
   3. Respiratory assessment
   4. Blood pressure measurement
   5. Oxygen saturation measurement
   6. Pain assessment
6. Patient Care Procedures
   1. Activities of daily living (ADLs)
   2. Bathing and hygiene
   3. Feeding and nutrition assistance
   4. Toileting assistance
   5. Bed making procedures
7. Patient Mobility and Positioning
   1. Proper body mechanics
   2. Patient transfer techniques
   3. Fall prevention procedures
   4. Patient positioning
8. Electrocardiography (ECG)
   1. Cardiac anatomy and physiology
   2. ECG equipment and supplies
   3. Lead placement procedures
   4. ECG recording and documentation
9. Specimen Collection and Handling
   1. Basic specimen collection principles
   2. Capillary specimen collection
   3. Specimen labeling procedures
   4. Specimen transport and handling
10. Patient Communication
    1. Communication techniques
    2. Patient interaction procedures
    3. Cultural competency
11. Legal and Ethical Considerations
    1. HIPAA regulations
    2. Patient rights
    3. Documentation standards
12. Documentation and Reporting
    1. Medical records documentation
    2. Electronic health records
    3. Reporting patient information
13. Emergency Procedures
    1. Emergency response procedures
    2. First aid principles
    3. Patient safety procedures
14. Quality Assurance
    1. Quality control procedures
    2. Error prevention
    3. Incident reporting
15. Certification Review and Examination Preparation
    1. AMT examination structure
    2. Practice examinations
    3. Test-taking strategies

Laboratory Skills Training

Students will perform hands-on simulated patient care procedures including:

• Vital signs measurement
• ECG procedures
• Patient hygiene procedures
• Patient mobility and transfer techniques
• Infection control procedures
• Specimen collection simulation

Students must demonstrate competency prior to clinical placement.

Clinical Education

Students must successfully complete supervised clinical practice in an approved healthcare facility. Clinical training includes:

• Direct patient care procedures
• Vital signs measurement and documentation
• ECG procedures
• Patient hygiene and mobility assistance
• Specimen collection assistance
• Patient safety procedures
• Professional communication

Minimum Clinical Performance Requirements:

• Demonstrated competency in vital signs measurement
• Demonstrated competency in ECG procedures
• Demonstrated competency in patient care procedures
• Competency verified by clinical supervisor

Methods of Instruction

• Classroom lectures
• Multimedia presentations
• Skills demonstrations
• Laboratory simulations
• Supervised clinical practice

Methods of Evaluation

• Written examinations and quizzes
• Practical skills assessments
• Clinical performance evaluations
• Final comprehensive examination

Grading and Completion Requirements

To successfully complete the program, students must:

• Achieve a minimum overall grade of 75% or higher
• Demonstrate competency in all required clinical and laboratory skills
• Complete all required classroom, laboratory, and clinical hours
• Maintain satisfactory attendance and professional conduct

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance is required. Students must maintain a minimum of 90% attendance to satisfy program completion and certification eligibility requirements.

Certification Eligibility

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates are eligible to apply for the American Medical Technologists (AMT) Registered Patient Care Technician (RPTC) certification examination under the approved education route, provided all AMT application requirements are met.

Statement of Compliance

This program is designed to align with American Medical Technologists (AMT) standards for Patient Care Technician education and includes the required didactic instruction, laboratory training, and supervised clinical experience necessary for RPTC certification eligibility.