Patient Transporter

Advocate Health Care; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health Care in Chicago seeks a Transporter to provide safe patient transport and exceptional service by following established policies and procedures. You will confirm tickets, assist with transfers, and communicate with nurses and dispatchers to ensure smooth patient movement.

The role requires reading, writing and speaking English, good communication, and CPR certification within 90 days of hire. A reliable team player with flexibility is essential for this on-site position.

Qualifications

• High School education or equivalent experience.
• Must be able to read, write and speak English.
• Good communication skills.
• CPR certification should be obtained within the first 90 days after hire.
• Flexible, versatile, reliable and a team player.

Responsibilities

• Provide and maintain a safe environment by following policies and procedures.
• Receive and confirm Ticket to Ride before transport.
• Attend department, hospital and Advocate trainings and meetings.
• Demonstrate knowledge of pediatric and geriatric needs and apply this in instruction and care.
• Communicate with dispatcher, nurse and other staff to coordinate transports.
• Assist with lifting and moving patients using proper body mechanics and equipment.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and provide courteous, professional service to patients and guests.
• Document and report safety hazards or delays as needed.
• Know location of hospital campuses and navigate to destinations.
• Perform transports efficiently and consistently meet workload expectations.

Skills

Communication skills

English proficiency

CPR certification

Team player

Flexible

Reading & writing

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Job description

Major Responsibilities

Transporters are responsible for providing and maintaining a safe environment for themselves, the patient, and their co-workers by following established policies and procedures.

• Receives/confirms Ticket to Ride document prior to transport.

Includes care givers signature and phone number and in initialed/signed by transporter that picked up the patient at "home" location.

• Attends department, hospital and Advocate educations and meetings.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the cognitive and sensory needs and abilities of pediatric and geriatric patients as revealed through departmental competency assessment activities and applies this knowledge when giving instructions, explanations to these patients as revealed by direct observation and patient feedback.
• Contact telemetry at time of move and completion.
• Be able to complete CPR if needed.
• Follows Bloodbourne Pathogens, Infection Control , and universal Precaution Policies.

Washes hands and wears PPE appropriately.

Follows Dress Code.

• Uses correct body mechanics/lifting techniques when transferring patients.

Uses gait belt as required.

Obtains transfer assistance as needed.

• Cleans soiled equipment after each use to avoid spread of disease.

• Uses proper 2 patient identifier for patient safety.

Reports safety hazards to management

Work assignments are to be completed as efficiently as possible by the transporter in order to meet the workload demands and better accommodate patient needs and additional requests for service.

Properly performs patient transports.

• Prepares the patient for transport while waiting for nursing assistance
• Reports delays or canceled tests to the dispatcher and other appropriate hospital personnel.
• Completes work assignments in established time guidelines determined through industrial engineered time standards on an automated dispatch system.
• Works independently and utilizes the appropriate resources to maintain efficient operations.
• Maintains communication with the dispatcher and responds to special instructions or assignments through the use of alpha-numeric pagers.
• Assist co-workers with lifting patients and provides any other help to make the transport safe and efficient.
• Follows oxygen usage guidelines as set by the hospital.
• Communicates changes in patient schedules to the dispatcher and the ancillary department to avoid multiple trips.
• Communicates problems related to the patient’s condition to the nurse.

Transporters will assists the patient/guest with service issues/problems by providing excellent customer service through established guest service techniques. Serves as a resource to patients, family members, and other hospital personnel. Maintains courtesy and a professional demeanor.

• Appropriately greets the patient and/or guest.

Knocks on door prior to entering.

• Introduces him/herself to the patient and informs the patient of their intended destination.
• Inquires if the patient needs any assistance of additional comfort measures. Uses age appropriate measures.

Offers extra blankets, pillows/comfort measures as needed.

• Provides the patient/guest directions and if necessary takes the individual to the desired destination.
• Refers the patient/guest on to the appropriate personnel who can be of more assistance and help resolve the given situation.
• Familiar with all locations of the hospital and campus.
• Converses with patients and guests and provides a friendly atmosphere to keep the patient’s spirits up.
• Converses with patients and guests and provides a friendly atmosphere to keep the patient’s spirits up.
• Accompanies the patient at all times.

Hands off patient appropriately.

Transporter has the ability to operate equipment safely and efficiently for the benefit and comfort of the patient. Identifies broken equipment and removes it from circulation.

• Identifies any broken piece of equipment used by the Transportation Department and labels it for repair.
• Cleans soiled equipment with approved cleaning solution for continued use with other patients.
• Uses and maintains equipment in proper operating order.
• Notifies management of safety issues related to equipment. Aware of the potential risks and safety hazards from the use of the equipment.
• Completes training and demonstrates skills in operating a wheelchair, bed, and cart, safely and efficiently according to established policies and procedures.
• Utilizes communication tools appropriately and communicates to dispatchers and healthcare providers to update status and information.

Work assignments are documented with all the necessary information as accurately as possible. Documentation is compiled and necessary for future departmental reference, problem/conflict resolution, and necessary for process improvement methods.

• Signs patients in and out of the unit.

Use tent cards when available.

• Completes blood moves per guidelines.
• Document ED-Radiology transports when not able to call into dispatch.

Turn in completed document to dispatch at mid-shift and end of shift.

• Adheres to schedules, breaks, and lunch periods.
• Fills out an incident report in any instance of patient or personal injury.

Patient information is kept confidential and the patient’s right to privacy is acknowledged and respected.

• Follows all confidentiality policies and procedures of the hospital
• Refrains from discussing confidential information with co-workers, friends, and family members.
• Restricts the patient from reading their chart unless in the presence of a medical professional.
• Checks for DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) restrictions. Education/Experience Required: High School education or equivalent experience.

This position will need to recognize needs and behaviors of a variety of age groups of patients treated, i.e. understand child growth and development, normal patterns of adolescent behavior and look for signs of normal aging; prior experience with various age groups is preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: Good communication skills.

Ability to anticipate patient, employee, and unit need and refer for appropriate action.

Customer Service Skills.

Must be able to read, write and speak English.

Basic math skills.

Flexible, versitility, reliablility and a team player.

Utilize good judgement. CPR certification should be obtain within the first 90 day after new hire orientation.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

Ability to work weekends, holidays, and work different shifts to accommodate staffing needs.

Ability to perform lifting/transfer activities related to patients. Safe body mechanics.

Ability to perform very heavy lifting (up to 100 pounds occasionally and/or in excess of 50 pounds frequently and/or in excess of 20 pounds constantly).

Ability to maneuver and operate equipment used by the department.

Routinely works with potentially infectious specimens and patients.

Ability to assist in evacuation of patients in the event of a fire or other disaster.

Work environment includes probability of exposure to adverse, hazardous or unpleasant conditions while caring for the sick.

continuous walking throughout shift.

Pushing, pulling, stooping, bending, twisting.

If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015.

Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.