Patient Transport Assistant

UPMC•Altoona, PA

About The Position

UPMC Altoona is seeking a casual Patient Transport Assistant to work at least 8 hours every two weeks. The role functions as part of the total nursing team, providing direct or indirect patient care as needed under the direction of an immediate supervisor and/or team leader. Duties may include elevator operation, dispatching transportation and orderly requests, assisting patients and nursing staff, and handling patient-care equipment.

Requirements

High school diploma, active enrollment in a high school/GED program, or one year of previous job experience in lieu of a high school diploma/GED.
Knowledge of equipment used in Nursing, especially traction and suction.
Demonstrate the weight test established by the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department.
Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships within and across departments.
Patient, courteous, and tactful manner.
Neat and orderly work and appearance.
Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Ability to exercise initiative and sound judgment when setting priorities for calls.
Act 34 clearance.

Responsibilities

When assigned as Elevator Operator, respond to calls from the Patient Transport Supervisor while patients are transported to and from the Operating Room suite and designated nursing units.
Operate the elevator using key control; sign the key in and out at Security and/or Patient Transport.
Respond promptly to calls from nursing units and emergency calls from Surgery, the Emergency Department, nursing units, and Radiology for codes and Life Flights.
Report elevators requiring repair and equipment requiring repair or replacement to the Patient Transport Supervisor.
Remove specialty beds from patient floors after patient discharge; two people are required.
Assist patients in a manner that supports their safety and comfort, follow hospital and departmental policies and procedures, and assist personnel with restraining patients.
Obtain, set up, remove, and store equipment such as K-pads, flotation mattresses, and air-pressure mattresses.
Assist physicians as needed.
When assigned as Clerk Dispatcher, receive patient transportation and orderly requests and establish response priorities within Nursing Administration policies.
Maintain transportation and orderly logs, record problems or delays, report problems to the immediate supervisor, and notify the department involved.
Coordinate calls for direct patient-care services and relay patient-care information to the Patient Transport Supervisor or unit nurse.
Assist nurses with helping patients in and out of bed for transport.
Obtain, set up, remove, clean, and store traction equipment; perform daily traction inspections.
Clean and store equipment and supplies, and ensure all OR litters have full oxygen tanks.
Assist with the discharge of prisoners when needed.