Patient Transportation Specialist PRN

Join one of the nation’s most comprehensive academic medical centers, UChicago Medicine, as a Patient Transportation Specialist PRN at our Hyde Park medical campus. This position is a 100% onsite opportunity. You will need to be based in the greater Chicagoland area. 

In this role the Patient Transportation Specialist PRN, under the direction of the Manager or his/her designee, provides the necessary safe and timely transportation of patients, charts, specimens, clinical equipment, etc. to required destinations within the Health Center. The Patient Transportation Specialist PRN will also perform safe and mechanically appropriate patient lifts and turns on a scheduled or on-demand basis. 

Position Details: 

• Shift: Day, Evening, or Night

• Hours per Week: Per Diem 

• Building: Varies 

• Job Duties: Patient Transportation 

• CBA Code: Non-Union 

Essential Job Functions:  

• Follows established procedures to safely transport, lift, turn, and/or transfer patients using transportation equipment such as wheelchairs, stretchers, beds, lifts, etc. Assists staff with patient transfers, turns, positioning, and lifting. Notifies Patient Care and Physical Therapy staff concerning special needs to ensure patient safety during lifts. Follows established procedures utilizing written logs to communicate patient transports. Clean and distribute IV, PCA, SCD, feeding and other pumps/equipment as needed throughout the Health Center. 

• Patient Transport: 

• Patient Transportation Specialists will wear disposable gloves while performing job duties. 

• Wheelchairs: There are two types of wheelchairs used for adult patients. The Standard Wheelchair has handles at 35” height, which are positioned 24” apart. Bariatric Wheelchairs, which are used for patients over 325lbs, have handles at 38” height which are positioned 30” apart. The wheelchairs have two wheel locks at 17” height. 

• For a 250lb patient (average patient weight), a 17lb push force is required to transport patient. Push forces may be up to 20lbs for bariatric patients. 

• Patients may be pushed for long distances throughout the Medical Center. 

• COMMUNICATION: 

• Patient Transport Specialists will communicate all activity changes to Teletracking System in a timely manner in order to maintain continuous contact with Dispatchers. 

• PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT: 

• Personal Protective Equipment is utilized to protect both the patient and the Patient Transportation Specialist from infectious diseases. Hands are washed before and after every patient encounter. 

• EMERGENCIES: 

• Responds to all emergency codes, including Dr. Cart, Triage, as well as all internal and external disasters. 

• DEMISTIFIER: 

• Sets up and utilizes Demistifier for the safe transport of patient with TB and other airborne diseases requiring this level of protection. 

• Demistifier requires a 7lb push/pull force to transport, often over long distances within the Medical Center. 

• A 5lb Demistifier pack is used to set up the Demistifier. 

• VARIOUS DUTIES: 

• Will enter any patient schedule change into the computer, monitor patient requests and wait times, monitor idle time, track information to ensure data is kept current, page employees to keep patient wait times to a minimum, and change priorities as needed to reduce wait and idle time. 

• Patient Transportation Specialists will also maintain pagers and other communication devices, advise Manager as to the need for repair, distribution and collection of communication devices. 

• Maintain confidentiality of patient and employee information as well as daily sign-in sheets, cancellation log sheets, and daily vox files. 

• Answer phones using proper phone etiquette, assist callers with any concerns, help resolve with Management assistance as necessary, communicate with management staff, and communicate delays and reasons of delays to the requester. 

• Performs other duties assigned. 

Qualifications: 

• High School or equivalent. Prior patient care experience preferred. On the job training is provided. 

• Requires physical strength and endurance necessary to lift, turn, and transport patients without causing injury to patient or self. Occupational Health will assess applicants’ physical capabilities prior to employment. 

• Requires the knowledge of lift and transfer skills to perform essential job functions without injury to patients. On the job training is provided. 

• Requires the ability to properly use various equipment used in transportation (wheelchairs, stretchers, IV poles, etc.). On the job training is provided. 

• Requires the ability to locate patient care areas, various therapeutic services departments, and various diagnostic and testing departments. On the job training is provided. 

• Requires the knowledge to conduct tasks according to departmental standards for timeliness, safety, and communications. 

• Requires the ability to properly use the telephones and pager systems to communicate with Dispatchers regarding work status. On the job training is provided. 

• Requires the ability to input and process data, analyze data, and think logistically in order to match departmental resources to demand. Must be able to maximize productivity and to minimize customer wait times. 

• Requires excellent customer service skills and the ability to problem solve and prioritize workload under pressure. Requires strong verbal skills to provide precise instructions to staff. 

• Knowledge of emergency procedures; training will be provided. CPR certification is required. 

Licenses/Certifications: 

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) – Basic Life Support