Patient Transport Assistant

UPMC; Altoona (PA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

UPMC is seeking a full-time Patient Transport Assistant for the evening shift (12:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.) with weekend/holiday rotation. The role involves supporting patient care, operating medical equipment, and coordinating transport with nursing staff.

Knowledge of traction equipment and patient handling is required; CPR/BLS certification is preferred. The position emphasizes safety, courtesy, and teamwork across departments.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• CPR certification required or in progress.
• Experience in patient handling and hospital procedures is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Relays information regarding patient care to supervisor or nurse on the unit.
• Sets up, cleans, stores, and inspects traction and other medical equipment.
• Assists physicians and nurses with patient transfers and discharges as needed.
• Operates elevator and coordinates calls for patient transport in OR areas.
• Maintains logs and prioritizes transport requests per Nursing Administration policies.
• Assists with restraining patients when required and ensures patient safety.

Skills

Patient care

Communication

Teamwork

Safety awareness

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Traction equipment knowledge

Medical equipment handling

Job description

Fulltime 40 hours a week Evening shift 12:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with rotation as needed - weekend/Holiday rotation

AFSCME union

Responsibilities

• Relays information regarding patient care to the Patient Transport supervisor or Nurse on the Unit.
• Has a thorough knowledge of obtaining, setting up, removing, cleaning, and storing traction equipment. Performs a daily traction inspection. Clean and stores equipment and supplies. Assures that all OR litters have full oxygen tanks.
• Has a thorough knowledge of obtaining, setting up, removing, and storing equipment (K-pads, flotation mattress, air pressure mattress, etc.).
• Assists the physician as needed. Assists with the discharge of prisoners, when needed. Assists nurses with helping patients in and out of bed for transport.
• Removes (specialty) beds from the patient floors when the patients are discharged (two persons required).
• When assigned as Elevator Operator: Responds to calls from Patient Transport Supervisor who is transporting patients to and from the Operating Room suite to designated nursing units. Operates elevator by key control. Responds to calls from the nursing units and gives prompt attention to emergency calls from surgery, Emergency Department, nursing units, and Radiology for codes and Life Flights. Signs key in and out at Security and/or Patient Transport. Reports need for repair of elevator.
• Assists patients in a manner conducive to their safety and comfort; adheres to established Hospital and departmental policies and procedures. Assists personnel with restraining patients.
• Reports equipment in need of repair or replacement to Patient Transport Supervisor.
• When assigned as Clerk Dispatcher: Receives all requests for patient transportation; and, orderly needs and establishes priorities for response to calls within the framework of Nursing Administration policies. Maintains transportation and orderly logs, as indicated and records all problems or delays, reports problems to immediate supervisor and notifies department involved. Coordinates all calls for direct patient care services

High school graduate or GED preferred.

Experience Required - None.

Other Qualifications

• Knowledge of equipment used in Nursing, especially traction and suction.
• Demonstrate weight test - as set by Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department.
• Able to establish and maintain good working relationships both intra and inter-departmentally.
• Patient, courteous, and tactful.
• Neat and orderly in work and appearance.
• CPR certification
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and written.
• Ability to exercise initiative and sound judgment in setting priorities on calls.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances

• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Act 34

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran