Patient Transporter

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Job Summary:

Hospital-wide, as a member of a Transport TEAM, provides timely individual patient transport via wheelchair or cart, primarily for designated inpatients and occasional outpatients, transporting patients for designated testing, therapy, treatment, pre or post-operative care or admission/discharge. Shift assignment of patient transporter employees is pre-set by the Patient Transporter, Supervisor, who also performs dispatching duties throughout the day-shift (peak transport times) via cell phone to each TEAM patient transporter.

Responsible to coordinate patient transport with assigned charge nurse (inpatient) or technician and then safely and efficiently transport the patient, IV equipment, monitoring equipment, the medical record and oxygen equipment as required with any assigned transport. In addition, job assignments may include stock maintenance/distribution of oxygen tanks and regulators to assigned departments in the hospital.

• Introduces self to patient and explains transport plan and destination.
• States own name and describes mode of transportation being used and destination to patient.
• Retrieves patient’s nurse if patient has questions regarding tests/therapy where they are being transferred to.
• Obtains permission from patient’s nurse to transport patient off floor for testing/procedure.
• Provides for appropriate mode of transportation considering the patient’s condition, comfort, and safety factors.
• Uses critical thinking to determine mode of transport.
• Contacts nursing staff with questions related to transport and gets a ticket-to-ride signed by RN.
• Coordinates tasks when able; anticipates problems and follows through.
• Transfers patient to/from cart, wheelchair, or other transport vehicle according to procedure; operates transport equipment safely and effectively.
• Maintains proper body mechanics; uses patient lift equipment; seeks assistance when necessary.
• Identifies patient prior to transport (asks patient to state name; checks ; alerts staff if bracelet is missing).
• Completes tasks as assigned; determines patient code status prior to transport; follows isolation and universal precautions.
• Stores and cleans transport equipment; reports broken equipment; returns equipment to department.
• Assists in coordinating patient trips; obtains permission from nursing staff for transport between departments.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Communication with patients/family/department coworkers/ancillary departments and supervisors essential for successful performance.
• Maintains ongoing shift communication with Patient Transporter Supervisor for delays, issues, and reassignments to keep throughput efficient.
• Uses chain of command in the department effectively; maintains dignity and confidentiality of all patients.
• Ensures transport cell phone is working properly and assists co-workers with lift help or transport of difficult patients when needed.
• Safely transports patients within the hospital for testing, procedures, surgery, treatment or admission/discharge.
• Operates wheelchairs and transport carts; assists patients onto transport carts or into wheelchairs; follows infection control per policy.
• Provides positive communication with hospital patients; supports daily productivity and capacity management; coordinates delivery to receiving departments.
• Transports assigned equipment or specimens as time allows; assists nursing staff with specimen or equipment transport as assigned; delivers stock oxygen tanks/regulators to pre-assigned departments.
• Provides in-house direction and customer service; greets visitors and assists patients/visitors as they enter the hospital; screens visitors and logs them as appropriate.

• Must be 18 years of age.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking; sound judgment.
• Strong ability to communicate complex topics to a diverse audience.
• Basic working knowledge of computers and office equipment.

• Prior experience working with patients.

• Basic Life…