Clinical Transporter, PRN

Patient Transporter

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Nursing and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state's future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System's anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties.

Schedule: Evening

Job Summary

Moves/transports patients of various weights, ages, and sizes to and from beds and ambulatory devices; to and from various treatment areas, using acceptable body mechanics while maintaining patient comfort and safety. Interacts with patients from toddlers to geriatric, with all types of illnesses. Secures, returns and maintains designated supplies and equipment. Assists in the maintenance of a safe and clean environment. This individual can also act in a sitter role providing direct observation of patients to ensure the safety of the patient and/or other patients, team members and family.

Primary Responsibilities:

Performance:

• Attains knowledge and competency that reflects current patient transport practice. Transports patients according to priority, adapting to changing priority where necessary.
• Verifies correct patient identification using approved hospital patient identifiers. Ensures the patient and the patient's medical record are taken/returned to the proper location.
• Utilizes transport tracking software correctly, accurately, and in a timely manner to assure system data reflects work processes appropriately.
• Utilizes appropriate infection control standards and techniques in all aspects of work and with handling supplies. Cleans stretchers and wheel chairs between use by following hospital and regulatory guidelines i.e. proper storage of beds, stretchers and other equipment.
• Performs patient transfers effectively, moves patients expeditiously and maintains departmental expectations for average transport times.
• Ensures appropriate linen is in place to care for patients. Uses linen to cover the chair, stretchers and pillows. Covers patient with appropriate sheet/blanket to ensure modesty, warmth and privacy.
• Assists with patient lifts and transfers. Brings lift devices, when requested.

Equipment:

• Maintains stocks and safely stores oxygen tanks. Rounds throughout the hospital each shift to collect equipment for transport and relocates to the appropriate locations. Identifies and tags defective equipment per policy to assure patient safety.
• Uses supplies and equipment in a cost effective manner. Assists team with non-patient care duties as assigned such as transporting supplies to/from Materials Management and Central Sterile, as requested and appropriate.

Safety/Environment:

• Assures the Environment of Care is maintained by ensuring cleanliness of patient care areas, and quietness of the environment. Rounds throughout units to maintain hallway safety and assure cleanliness.
• Considers factors related to patient safety. Communicates special patient care needs to the appropriate team member(s). Identifies situations requiring immediate intervention and acts accordingly. Notifies clinical team members of all pertinent information regarding the condition of patient and completes appropriate hand off per policy.
• Safely and efficiently moves patients on stretchers, beds and wheelchairs from one area of the hospital to another with accompanying equipment such as IV's, IV controllers, pumps, oxygen, etc. to expedite patient care and protect the hospital from liability.

Communication:

• Reports problems and resolutions of problems regarding all customers, using appropriate lines of authority, demonstrating effective communication methods and skills.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families, co-workers, physicians and other health care workers. Maintains high customer service by providing directions to visitors and representing hospital in a positive manner in interactions with patients, family, visitors and all team members.

Quality:

• Performs well in and contributes to the success of department-specific Performance Improvement activities and goals.
• Demonstrates self-directed learning behaviors as evident in timely completion of all mandatory education and competencies. Attends Team Meetings, Safety Rounds and In-services on a regular basis. Reads and responds to emails in a timely manner.
• Demonstrates interpersonal skills and competencies for the toddler, preschool, school age, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient.
• Utilizes proper scheduling guidelines and policies when completing the work schedule; putting in requests for vacation, holiday, personal, sick time; proper completion of the meal break question every shift. Completes clocking in and out accurately and consistently.

Ethics/Integrity:

• Integrates ethical provisions and integrity in all areas of practice and with relationships with peers, colleagues and leaders. Partners with others to effect change and generate positive outcomes and a positive patient and family care environment. Demonstrates active listening skills, clear communication, and empathetic presence with the patient, family and health care team.

Work Experience

Education & Training: High school diploma or GED. Knowledge of proper body mechanics.

Work Orientation & Experience: Previous experience in a hospital setting preferred.

Skills & Abilities: Ability to: a) effectively convey verbal and written information; b) follow directions; c) organize and manage time effectively, setting appropriate priorities; d) respond to emergency situations appropriately; e) effectively function as a member of a collaborative team; f) maintain patient confidentiality.