Emergency Transport Coordinator

Oregon Health & Science University•Portland, OR

About The Position

The Emergency Transport Coordinator (ETC) acts as a transfer coordinator, dispatcher, and specialty operator for the OHSU/DCH Emergency Communication Center (ECC), a multi-functional call center supporting emergency operations and Mission Control. The role manages calls to the OHSU System Transfer Center and designated access numbers, and connects regional health care providers with OHSU/DCH physicians by telephone or telemedicine for advice, transfers, pediatric direct admissions, and emergency team activations. The ETC coordinates complex transfers of acutely ill patients, collects patient information, initiates EPIC intake, performs initial cursory triage for possible transfers to partner hospitals, pages appropriate physicians, documents key information, activates specialty teams, and shares information with clinical staff. The position works with bed flow management, physicians, transfer center nursing, and patient placement to arrange appropriate beds. The ETC also dispatches the Pediatric and Neonatal Doernbecher Ambulance team (PANDA) at authorized physicians’ discretion, coordinates its transportation, tracks the team, and activates emergency protocols as needed. Other duties include answering and triaging ED calls, coordinating pages and emergency team activations, answering stat lines, managing emergency radio and phone communications, documenting and disseminating ambulance reports, and supporting regional mass-casualty response, patient distribution, and Area Zone Management.

Requirements

One year of EMS dispatching, hospital transfer center coordination, or hospital bed placement coordination experience; alternatively, management may consider two years of Patient Access Services Specialist or similar administrative experience in a complex hospital or outpatient environment.
Demonstrated ability to work in a high-stress, high-acuity setting and adapt to a rapidly changing work environment.
Demonstrated ability to direct and control multiple critical communications events simultaneously.
Ability to work in a team-oriented, high-stress environment with competing priorities while also working independently.
Excellent customer service skills and highly proficient verbal communication skills with diverse callers.
Experience with multiple-line phones and extremely high call volume.
Database skills, medical terminology, radio communications, and typing skills.
Ability to hear and understand verbal communication, remain at a workstation while sitting or standing for more than 10 hours per day, and read, write, and type accurately.

Nice To Haves

Some college.
Formal EMS dispatcher training.
Emergency radio communications experience.
Medical terminology and database skills.
Typing speed of 50 WPM.

Responsibilities

Coordinate complex transfers of acutely ill patients to OHSU/DCH from outside hospitals.
Collect accurate patient information and initiate EPIC intake.
Conduct initial cursory triage for possible transfer to partner hospitals.
Page appropriate OHSU physicians and connect referring providers with OHSU providers by recorded telephone line or telemedicine link.
Scribe key information discussed during calls, activate specialty teams, and disseminate information to clinical staff.
Collaborate with the bed flow manager, physician on duty, transfer center RN, and patient placement to secure appropriate bed placement.
Dispatch the Pediatric and Neonatal Doernbecher Ambulance team (PANDA) at the discretion of authorized physicians.
Coordinate air and ground transportation for the PANDA team, track the team throughout transport, and activate emergency protocols or secure assistance when required.
Answer and triage incoming calls to the OHSU/DCH Emergency Department, facilitate page requests, and manage emergency team activations on behalf of ED staff.
Answer stat lines and quickly gather information, including POLST registry and Rapid Response Team lines and, when needed, OHSU operator stat lines.
Answer OHSU, trauma, and MRH radio channels and the MRH phone line.
Document ambulance reports received through OHSU and trauma communications and promptly share patient-condition information with relevant clinical teams.
Support regional mass-casualty incidents by disseminating information to area hospitals and managing patient distribution.
Activate and manage Area Zone Management (AZM) to distribute ambulance traffic across geographic regions when all emergency departments are on ambulance divert.