Emergency Transport Communication Specialist

At UC Health, we're proud to have the best and brightest teams and clinicians collaborating toward our common purpose: to advance healing and reduce suffering.

As the region's adult academic health system, we strive for innovation and provide world-class care for not only our community, but patients from all over the world. Join our team and you'll be able to develop your skills, grow your career, build relationships with your peers and patients, and help us be a source of hope for our friends and neighbors.

UC Health is committed to providing an inclusive, equitable and diverse place of employment.

The Communications Specialist is a member of the transport team who works in the communications center to triage patients to the correct level of medical transport care, communicates with ground and flight crews, provides flight following and communications, assists with quality improvement measures, plans day to day staffing, coordinates daily resources and assists with a variety of short and long-term projects. Works collaboratively with others to deliver the safest and highest quality patient and family centered care possible during transport. Works within the standards of governing and regulatory bodies for medical transport, aviation vendor operations manual and Federal Aviation Administration rules and regulations.

Minimum Required: High School Diploma or GED; Preferred: Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree. 

Required: Basic Life Support (BLS), National Association of Air Medical Communication Specialist (NAACS) Certified Flight Communicator or equivalent course will be required within 2 years after hire; Strongly Encouraged: Current EMT or Paramedic Certification in Ohio or National Registry. MTEC (Internal trauma course), may be required at a certain interval after hire and ongoing. Additional certifications or trainings to meet regulatory or industry standards may be required within a certain interval after hire or after notification.

 Minimum of 3 years EMS or equivalent communications or dispatch experience required five years is preferred.
 

Safety:

Assures that safety of the transport team and patient are a primary driver for communication and dispatch decision making. 

Monitors transports, including use of technology-based tracking systems, and follows emergency procedures for in flight / ground emergencies. Communicates emergencies to aviation vendor operational control center and UCMC leadership quickly and in accordance with established emergency protocols. 

Maintains competence in radio frequency bands used in medical and ground EMS. 

Understands weather interpretation and how to retrieve current and forecasted weather to assist the pilot/driver during transport. 

Maintains competence in the Post Accident/Incident Plan (PAIP)

Understands and maintains competence in navigation techniques and map skills including of GPS navigation and approaches. 

Reads and maintains a useable knowledge of department policies, procedures and guidelines related to safety, including; vehicle operations, emergency procedures, bariatric transport, etc.

Maintains a safe, clean, well-organized work area in the communications center and encourages and directs other staff to do the same.

Conducts operations in a safe manner.

Never sidesteps safety to get a transport completed.

Never puts any of the department values above safety, including financial sustainability

Clinical Practitioner:

Clinical Practitioner:

Coordinating ground and air transports. Coordinates the level of transport care provider; BLS, ALS, MICU, Air. Collaborates with referring and receiving care providers and transport team to encourage safe and appropriate resource utilization for the individual patient. Collaborates with RN Coordinator when available. Communicates appropriate patient information in a professional manner. Respects patients’ rights to privacy. Documents all clinical information per department standards. Collaborates with EMS, physicians, nurses and other health care providers to assure that the patient’s unique transport needs are met. Follows the department and hospital policies, procedures, and standards for patient care and operations. Maintains computerized database of all transport requests and other data as directed. Actively participates in department quality assurance and review. Maintains all clinical competencies required.

Operational Practitioner:

Reports to work on-time and leaves on-time unless directed otherwise or situation specific additional resources are needed. Assumes responsibility for self while on-shift in respect to operational decision making. Collaborates with and communicates frequently with department leadership as operational needs change throughout the day. Collaborating with the department’s leadership team to assure that adequate and appropriate staffing for the transport teams are met. Includes reviewing current schedules to help secure adequate staff coverage of any open shifts and informing leadership of l all staff changes. Attains a useful understanding of ground and aviation operations. Follows all regulations of the aviation vendor’s operations manual as explained to them by the vendor. Attaining and maintaining a clear understanding of aviation and ground EMS operations, rules and regulations. Vehicle tracking, including ambulance and helicopter tracking, and stays competent in any other relevant aviation or ground safety processes as defined by the department, state or national standards. Maintains at least the minimum requirement for meeting attendance, and education. Reads e-mail every shift and at least weekly. Responds to e-mail as appropriate. Completes projects and special projects as assigned. Maintains scheduling flexibility to meet the needs of the department to cover; sick call offs, vacation/PTO, open positions, and other needs. Demonstrates knowledge and acceptance of department Mission, Vision, and Values. Taking initiative to obtain information related to department operations by, but not limited to: attending meetings, reviewing meetings minutes, reading department generated e-mails, newsletters and other formats of communication in a timely manner (every week at a minimum). The pass on book and communication center book will be reviewed daily and the communication specialist will complete daily log sheets.

Professional Growth:

Remains current and active in the profession of nursing and the medical transport industry. Completes clinical rotations or operational experiences as assigned and by the completion due date. Remains current in job specific licensures, certifications and competencies. Develops and maintains flexibility with changing department requirements, policies, procedures, standards and guidelines. Explores, accepts, and implements new industry standards for safety, clinical care, and operational efficiency in coordination with leadership. Willingly explores as well as accepts and implements new industry standards in order to strive for higher quality outcomes and improved efficiency. Contributes to the growth of peers by sharing own knowledge, experience and skills. Educates healthcare professionals and other customers regarding the operation of the transport program (includes orienting new associates as assigned).

Safety:

Maintains a safe, clean, well organized work area in the communications center and encourages and directs other staff to do the same. Conducts operations in a safe manner. Takes the safety of the transport crews and patient as the primary concern for each transport. Reads and maintains a useable knowledge of department policies, procedures and guidelines related to safety, including; vehicle operations, emergency procedures, bariatric transport, etc. Never sidesteps safety to get a transport completed. Never puts any of the department values above safety including, financial sustainability.

Customer Service:

Knows, practices and demonstrates the Core RITE values at all times while at work or while representing any part of UC Health internally or to the public including, but not limited to; conversation, e-mail, texting, social media, and personal presentation. Works to support service excellence in Patient and Family Centered Care. Provides excellent customer service to people and organizations requesting coordination of patient transport. Thinks and acts creatively to meet the individual needs of patients and families. Provides excellent customer service to co-workers through complete, and efficient communications. Initiates and participates in customer service initiatives, marketing and customer outreach efforts for the program, hospital, and industry.