Coordinator | Patient Transportation

Position Summary
Interior Health is seeking a term specific full time Coordinator | Patient Transportation to join our team at the Kelowna Community Health and Services Centre!

What we offer:

• An attractive remuneration package
• Excellent career prospects
• Employer paid training/education
• Work-life balance

Salary range for the position is $62,239 to $89,469. Interior Health establishes salaries within the minimum and maximum of the salary range based on consideration of the qualifications, experience of the applicant, and an internal equity review of the salaries of other employees.

What will you work on?

The Coordinator, Patient Transportation is responsible for arranging transfers that meet the care needs of patients and the operational requirements of Interior Health facilities. Functions within a call-centre environment (Patient Transport Office) to arrange patient transfers between health authority facilities. This is done by coordinating on-time delivery of both ground and air transportation resources with health care facility operations. Communicates with clinical staff, transportation providers (e.g. BC Ambulance Service), and bed coordinating agencies (i.e. bcbedline, Southern Alberta Regional Coordination Centre) to facilitate patient flow through the health care continuum in a cost-effective manner.

Some Key Duties may include:

• In collaboration with facility staff, transport providers and bed coordinating agencies, provides:
o transportation resources that match the care requirements of patients in a cost-effective manner;
o coordination of transfer activity to facilitate on-time delivery of patient care and optimize patient flow through the health care continuum (e.g. reduce avoidable length of stay in hospital);
o critical analysis to maximize utilization of transport resources during peak demand periods;
o cost-effective utilization of transportation resources (i.e. reducing ‘dead-head’ trips);
o coordination of patients being repatriated from within and outside the health authority;
o real-time problem solving to address bottlenecks in patient flow that are related to the transportation system.

• Obtains patient care information from clinical staff and various electronic resources and inputs this data into the PTO software program for the purposes of optimizing patient transfers, quality assurance and invoice verification.

• Uses a customer-relations approach in working with clinical staff (e.g. nurses, physicians, social workers) to match the most appropriate transportation resource to the patient’s clinical needs.

• Uses various sources to gather operational information that is required to schedule inter-facility transfers in a manner that facilitates patient access and flow throughout the health care continuum (e.g. hospital bed capacity reports, daily bed management meetings).

• Participates in continuous quality improvement activities by performing such duties as:
o auditing patient transfer activities;
o identify opportunities for program improvement and recommend same to the Team Leader;
o identify, report and investigate incidents and complaints involving the transportation system;
o attend regularly scheduled PTO team meetings;
o comply with PTO operational policies and procedures;
o perform other related duties as assigned.

• As a member of a multidisciplinary team, provides input into the development of the Patient Transportation Network. Contributes to the Patient Transportation Network by reporting on transport activity and related patient care and operational issues. Keeps the Team Leader advised of program requirements and activities.
• Maintains work area in a safe and tidy condition.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

In alignment with IH’s Occupational Health & Safety Program, maintain a healthy and safe work environment through complying with and implementing applicable Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, responding to requests from WSBC, identifying hazards and communicating risks, ensuring compliance with employee training, conducting effective incident investigations and implementing required corrective actions.

Honouring Interior Health’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), and Pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, preferential consideration and/or hiring will be given to qualified applicants who self-identify as Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).

Qualfications
Graduate of an accredited program in direct patient care including eligibility for licensure in applicable professional registering body (e.g. Emergency Medical Dispatcher, Primary Care Paramedic, RN, LPN,) and three years recent related experience-including coordination of inter-facility patient transfers; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to plan, implement and evaluate safe and cost-effective patient transportation services
• Fosters an environment that values client centered care, innovation, adaptability, flexibility and critical thinking
• Ability to provide effective staff, patient and peer education related to the patient transportation system
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, the public, medical staff and members of interdisciplinary teams in written and verbal forums.
• Demonstrated team player with strong interpersonal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task, apply critical thinking, and problem-solve in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to adapt and implement ongoing change and quality improvement initiatives
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work independently, manage a varied work load and problem solve.
• Skillful in customer relations
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position
• Ability to operate related equipment including demonstrated ability to collect data utilizing computer software such as Windows’ Excel. Capable of working on multi-screen computer systems.
• Demonstrated ability to function adequately with medical terminology and language.
• Defines own continuing education needs and maintains competency through reading literature, management workshops, seminars and available educational offerings.