Communication Specialist - Dispatcher (Nights)

Children's Mercy KC; Kansas City (MO); On-site; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Communication Specialist-Dispatcher to join their team in Kansas City. This role is pivotal in managing the Transfer Center, where you will handle a high volume of calls and coordinate critical patient transports. If you have a passion for healthcare and a commitment to compassionate service, this position offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in the lives of children and families. Join a community-focused organization that values diversity and inclusion, and be part of a team that strives to improve patient care through effective communication and teamwork.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Retirement Plans

Paid Time Off

Continuing Education

Employee Discounts

Qualifications

• 1-2 years experience in a clinical setting preferred.
• Must obtain CNA license within 1 year if not already certified.

Responsibilities

• Triages emergent and non-emergent requests for transports and admissions.
• Participates in professional development to enhance role performance.

Skills

Clinical Experience

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Communication Skills

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Associate's Degree

Tools

EMT Certification

CNA Certification

Job description

Thanks for your interest in Children's Mercy!

Do you envision finding a meaningful role with an inclusive and compassionate team? At Children’s Mercy, we believe in making a difference in the lives of all children and shining a light of hope to the patients and families we serve. Our employees make the difference, which is why we have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top pediatric hospital for eleven consecutive years.

Children’s Mercy is in the heart of Kansas City – a metro abounding in cultural experiences, vibrant communities, and thriving businesses. This is where our patients and families live, work, and play. This is a community that has embraced our hospital, and we strive to say thanks by giving back. As a leader in children’s health, we engage in meaningful programs and partnerships throughout the region so that we can improve the lives of children beyond the walls of our hospital.

Overview

Children’s Mercy Kansas City, GE HealthCare Launch Nation’s First Pediatric Hospital Operations Center to Improve Patient Care

Check out this video to learn more about the role of a Communication Specialist- Dispatcher at Children's Mercy

Schedule:

Three 12 hr. shifts/week

Minimal Weekends Friday/Saturday

Holiday Rotation

The Transfer Center phone is the first contact for all direct admissions, consults, and transport requests. The International Association of Medical Transport Communication Specialist (IAMTCS) certified EMTs, Paramedics, LPNs, and CNAs working in the Transfer Center provide many services internally to our CMH employees while also serving as the first point of contact at Children’s Mercy for outside referral providers. The Communication Specialists handle an average of 2500 phone and radio calls daily. Calls include providers requesting direct admits; referrals to the Emergency Department; requests for our neonatal/pediatric transport team; consults with a subspecialist; METRO (neonatal) consults, Home Vent or Pulse Ox consults; SCAN or SANE referrals; clinic appointment escalations; Trauma activations and many other responsibilities.

The Transfer Center is the epicenter of the Children’s Mercy Critical Care Transport Team, one of the three busiest neo/peds specialty teams in the country for over a decade. The Certified Flight Communicators (CFC) receive the initial call requesting our team and are responsible for conferencing the referral provider with the appropriate medical control physician at CMH; dispatching the team by jet, turbo prop airplane, helicopter, or ground ambulance; notifying pilots; obtaining weather checks; tracking the teams throughout transport with GPS and continuous communication; and communicating with the CMCCT Shift Coordinator and referral provider/facility. The dedicated and conscientious Transfer Center staff provides ongoing support and resources to maintain the safety of our Critical Care Transport teams in all modes of transport, throughout all missions.

Assists community providers and internal physicians with emergent and non-emergent requests for specialty consults, inpatient admissions, Emergency Department referrals, and dispatches the CMH Critical Care Transport team. Accepts patients to the Emergency Department on behalf of the ED attending physician. Tracks and coordinates ground and flight communication and follows with the transport team during transports. Works as a team member and supports a teamwork philosophy.

At Children’s Mercy, we are committed to ensuring that everyone feels welcomed within our walls. A successful candidate for this position will join us as we strive to create a workplace that reflects the community we serve, as well as our core values of kindness, curiosity, inclusion, team, and integrity.

Additionally, it’s important to us that we remain transparent with all potential job candidates. Because we value the safety of the patients and families we serve, as well as the Children’s Mercy staff, we want to let you know that the seasonal influenza vaccine is a condition of employment for all employees in our organization. New employees must be willing to be vaccinated if found non-immune to measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and chicken pox (varicella) and/or without evidence of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination since 2005. If you become a finalist for this position, and have any concerns about receiving these vaccines, medical and/or religious exemptions can be further discussed with Human Resources.

Responsibilities

• Triages and processes all emergent and non-emergent requests from providers for transports, direct admissions, Emergency Department referrals, and consults.
• Utilizes quality improvement measures and lean standard work to improve communication of patient care.
• Participates in continuing education and professional development to expand knowledge, enhance role performance, and improve patient placement and throughput.

Qualifications

• HS diploma or equivalent and 1-2 years experience; 1 year of clinical experience preferred or
• Associate's Degree preferred
• One of the following: Licensed Emergency Med Tech MO, Licensed Emergency Med Tech KS, Licensed Paramedic KS, Licensed Paramedic MO, Certified Nurse Aide MO, Certified Nurse Aide KS, Licensed Practical Nurse KS, Licensed Practical Nurse MO, LPN Multistate License, LPN Multistate License Kansas required upon hire
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) OR Required Upon Hire
• If not a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), one of the following criteria must be met, and a CNA license must be obtained within 1 year of hire: Enrolled in a professional (BSN/AD) nursing program and have successfully completed the fundamentals in nursing
• CFC (Certified Flight Communicator) per IAMTCS Preferred Upon Hire

Benefits at Children's Mercy

The benefits plans at Children’s Mercy are one of many reasons we are recognized as one of the best places to work in Kansas City. Our plans are designed to meet the changing needs of our employees and their families.

Learn more about Children’s Mercy benefits.

Starting Pay

Our pay ranges are market competitive. The pay range for this job begins at $21.93/hr, but your offer will be determined based on your education and experience.

Remote Work/Work from Home

This position is not eligible to work remotely, which means that the person hired will be required to work onsite at one of our Children’s Mercy locations and may not work from home.

EEO Employer/Disabled/Vet

Children’s Mercy hires individuals based on their job skills, expertise, and ability to maintain professional relationships with fellow employees, patients, parents, and visitors. A personal interview, formal education and training, previous work experience, references, and a criminal background investigation are all factors used to select the best candidates. The hospital does not discriminate against prospective or current employees based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, creed, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, or veteran status. A drug screen will be performed upon hire. Children’s Mercy is smoke and tobacco-free.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

CM is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. Our patients and families come from all walks of life, and so do we. We know that our greatest strengths come from the people who make up our team, so we hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes our hospital stronger and our patient care more compassionate.

If you share our values and our enthusiasm for service, you will find a home at CM. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring, including education, ideas, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, languages spoken, veteran status, color, religion, disability, and beliefs.