Patient Transporter - Casual

Independence Health System Careers•Greensburg, PA

13h•Onsite

About The Position

As a member of a Transport TEAM, the Patient Transporter provides timely individual patient transport via wheelchair or cart, primarily for designated inpatients and occasional outpatients, for testing, therapy, treatment, pre or post-operative care, or admission/discharge. Shift assignments are pre-set by the Patient Transporter Supervisor, who also dispatches via cell phone. The role involves coordinating patient transport with charge nurses or technicians, and safely and efficiently transporting patients, along with IV equipment, monitoring equipment, medical records, and oxygen equipment as required. Job assignments may also include stock maintenance and distribution of oxygen tanks and regulators to assigned departments. The transporter introduces themselves, explains the transport plan and destination, and retrieves the patient's nurse for questions. They obtain permission to transport, determine the appropriate mode of transportation using critical thinking, and contact nursing staff for questions, securing a 'ticket-to-ride' (TTR) signed by an RN. They transfer patients using proper body mechanics and patient lift equipment, identifying patients via name and ID bracelet. Tasks are completed as assigned through capacity management, including determining patient code status and reminding staff about capacity management tools. The role requires adherence to appropriate isolation techniques and universal precautions, including donning and removing PPE and following hand washing protocols. Transporters store and clean equipment, report broken items, and assist in coordinating patient trips between ancillary departments. Communication with patients, families, coworkers, ancillary departments, and supervisors is essential. They maintain ongoing shift communication with the Patient Transporter Supervisor for delays, issues, and reassignments, using the chain of command effectively. Maintaining patient dignity and confidentiality is paramount. They ensure transport cell phones are working and assist coworkers with lifts or heavy patient loads during downtime. The role involves safely operating wheelchairs and transport carts, practicing infection control, assisting patients who become ill, coordinating proper transport of patients and medical records, and providing positive communication. Daily productivity is tracked via Capacity Management. They coordinate patient delivery with receiving departments, sign in at log stations, and report special patient needs. Safely transporting assigned equipment or specimens is also part of the role, with patient transport being the priority. They assist nursing staff with specimen or special situation equipment transport as assigned, and deliver stock oxygen tanks or regulators. Additionally, they provide in-house direction and customer service, acting as a greeter for visitors, patients, and employees, screening and logging visitors, and assisting with directional information.

Requirements

Must be 18 years of age.
Strong leadership ability.
Good organizational skills.
Independent and critical thinking skills.
Sound judgment.
Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
Basic working knowledge of computers and office equipment.
Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program.
Act 33 with renewal.
Act 34 with renewal.
Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal.
Ability to perform the Essential Functions listed on the Physical Conditions and Working Condition charts.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience working with patients.

Responsibilities

Provide timely individual patient transport via wheelchair or cart, primarily for designated inpatients and occasional outpatients.
Transport patients for designated testing, therapy, treatment, pre or post-operative care or admission/discharge.
Coordinate patient transport with assigned charge nurse (inpatient) or technician.
Safely and efficiently transport the patient, IV equipment, monitoring equipment, the medical record and oxygen equipment as required.
Perform stock maintenance/distribution of oxygen tanks and regulators to assigned departments.
Introduce self to patient and explain transport plan and destination.
Retrieve patient's nurse if patient has questions regarding tests/therapy where they are being transferred to.
Obtain permission from patient’s nurse to transport patient off floor for testing/procedure.
Provide for appropriate mode of transportation considering the patient's condition, comfort, and any safety factors.
Use critical thinking skills to determine mode of transport.
Contact nursing staff with questions related to transport and get a ticket-to-ride (TTR) signed by registered nurse (RN).
Coordinate tasks when able and anticipate problems.
Transfer patient to/from cart, wheelchair, or other transport vehicle according to procedure.
Operate transport equipment effectively and maintain proper body mechanics.
Use patient lift equipment and seek assistance when necessary.
Identify patient prior to transport by asking patient to state their name and checking patient identification bracelet.
Alert staff when patient's bracelet is missing.
Complete tasks as assigned through capacity management.
Determine patient code status prior to transport.
Use appropriate isolation techniques and comply with universal precautions.
Secure and don appropriate protective equipment before entering patient's room according to isolation posting.
Remove PPE and follow hand washing protocol before taking patient out of room.
Ensure patient is wearing PPE, when appropriate, before taking patient out of their room.
Store and clean transport equipment appropriately throughout the day.
Report broken equipment.
Return transport equipment to department when able.
Assist in coordinating patient trips and obtain permission from nursing staff for patient transport from one ancillary department to another.
Communicate effectively with patient/family, visitors and other members of the healthcare team.
Maintain ongoing shift communication (daylight shift) with the Patient Transporter, Supervisor for patient delays, issues, problems and temporary reassignment.
Use chain of command in the department effectively.
Maintain dignity and confidentiality of all patients encountered at Independence Health.
Ensure transport cell phone is working properly, transferring phone to patient transporter on duty or appropriate voice mail direction.
Assist co-workers with lift help or transport of difficult patients or volume patient load during any down-time period.
Safely transport of patients within the hospital for testing, procedures, surgery, treatment or admission/discharge.
Operate wheelchairs for safe transport of patients within the hospital, following patient safety practices.
Operate transport carts for safe transport of patients within the hospital, following patient safety practices.
Assist patients onto transport carts or into wheelchairs for in-house transport.
Practice infection control procedures, per policy for infectious / isolation patients.
Provide assistance for patients who become ill and need immediate attention (vomiting, CPR, etc.).
Coordinate proper transport of the correct inpatient (or outpatient) for assigned testing or procedure, including the correct medical record.
Maintain patient privacy, dignity and confidentiality throughout transports and hospital stay per policy.
Provide positive communication at all times with hospital patients.
Keep daily productivity / Capacity Management of all transports and activity.
Coordinate delivery of patients with receiving department, technicians, signing in at required log stations and reporting special needs of patients.
Safely transport assigned equipment or specimens, as necessary and time allows, with patient transport being the hospital priority.
Assist nursing staff with specimen or special situation equipment transport, as assigned by Patient Transporter, Supervisor.
Deliver stock oxygen tanks or regulators to pre-assigned departments.
Provide in-house direction and customer service support for organizational excellence.
Assist hospital customers/visitors with directional information.
Serve as greeter for visitors, patients and employees entering Independence Health.
Screen all visitors prior to entering and log visitors in tracking program as appropriate.
Greet and assist patients/visitors as they enter the main entrance of the hospital.