Job: Communication/Dispatch Specialist (St. Joseph's)

Work in a fast-paced environment with our Communication Specialists at St. Joseph's Hospital. Our team is a part of Ministry Transport Services and Inpatient Referral Services. This role is the first line of call for dispatching our ambulance and helicopter teams for emergency medical services and also assists with patient admissions to the hospital.

Hours are (every other weekend and holiday rotation as well):

Friday: Noon-8pm
Saturday: 8am-4pm
Sunday: 8am-4pm
Monday: 4pm-Midnight

The Communication Specialist is an integral member of the MTS and the Inpatient Referral team. In collaboration with referring and receiving physicians, the Communication Specialist coordinates all unscheduled patient referrals and medical transportation requests, related and unrelated to inpatient referrals. The Communication Specialist manages telephone, radio, written and verbal communication within the Medical Transportation Service (MTS) and Inpatient Referral Services. This includes receiving and processing all incoming requests for service and information, and communicating with requesting and receiving institutions, physicians and public service agencies, and coordinating all aspects of referral and transportation. Also included is; providing base communication for aircraft and ground vehicle medical transportation, mission following of both the helicopter and ground ambulance, receiving, interpreting and disseminating patient medical and demographic information among physicians and health care providers for the purpose of inpatient admissions.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Communications:

Receives all incoming request/inquiries for inpatient referral, transportation services including rotor and ground transports.
Coordinates inpatient referral admissions and communicates with referring MD, receiving MD, admitting office, Nursing Supervisor, and other parties involved in order to effectively and efficiently facilitate an inpatient admission.
Coordinates ambulance transports arriving at and departing from hospital helipads and other ambulance providers.
Communicates with requesting/receiving institutions to relay any pertinent information regarding patient status for admission and/or transport.

Clerical Duties:

Accurately records all flights, standbys, and other pertinent data related to transportation operations.
Accurately record all inpatient referral information into a retrieval database
Operates all communication equipment.
Have a basic understanding of database functions and structures and be able to generate reports relative to inpatient and medical transportation activity.
Savvy in maneuvering from one type of IS system and call type to another.
Reports any malfunction in equipment promptly to the supervisor and assists with notifying the appropriate department to repair.

Public Relations:

Projects a friendly, courteous and service oriented image to all callers. Is expected to demonstrate genuine positive and helpful style of interaction with the public, co-workers, physician, referring agencies and patients.
Handles all communications in a calm, courteous manner.
Handles all stressful situations in a professional manner.
Refers all incoming media inquiries to the Managers office and keeps the supervisor updated on all media events relating to the transport service.
Provides tours and demonstrations of Communications Center capabilities.

Education: High School or equivalent.
Education: Completion of Unit Clerk Program at a Technical School or previous hospital Unit Clerk experience or completion of Emergency Medical Technician Program, or associate degree in a healthcare field.
Experience: Minimum of three years experience in health care field or Emergency Medical Services is required.