You Can ’ t Heal ‘ Em If We Don ’ t Wheel ‘ Em
By : Cameron Ross
When you think about a hospital , what are the first jobs that come to mind ? More than likely , you think about doctors , nurses , surgeons , or maybe radiologists . There are many other medical professions that people don ’ t really think about . As the saying goes , “ It takes a village to raise a kid .” Well , it is the same for bringing patients back to health . Every job is essential , and every job matters when it comes to operating a hospital . One job that is often overlooked , yet a hospital would barely function without , is that of the clinical transporter .
Clinical transporters assist patients in and out of ambulances , taxi cars , helicopters , and beds , and they zoom through the hospital , transferring patients , for example , from the operating room to a sonography room for scans . They are responsible for taking patients everywhere – from the ER to their rooms , and from their rooms to test sites or the OR – from the moment they come into the hospital until the moment they leave . They assist RNs and CNAs with lifting and transferring patients to and from beds , stretchers , or test tables . They attach and read heart monitors while in transit and are responsible for recognizing when something is wrong . The biggest part is patient comfort – not only making them physically comfortable , but also assisting patients in any way possible , even if it is just by relaying something to a nurse . Customer service is a must to make patients as comfortable as possible !
Clinical transporters have a ton of tools at their disposal that take skill and knowledge to operate , everything from stretchers to bed controls . They even have a few specialized beds that they learn to operate . Some are for bariatric patients , ICU patients , or paraplegics . Clinal transporters also have to learn to use slide boards to help get a patient from one bed to another , or gate belts , which are used to support wobbly patients who need assistance getting up and down . They also have to have the ability to efficiently operate a software program called TeleTracking . This is used to track where patients are and where they are supposed to be going , and it keeps the hospital from accidentally losing patients .
You ’ re probably thinking : what does it take to be a transporter ? What kind of person do you have to be to be able to do the job ? Well , it takes someone who is willing to work hard , because the job never stops . You will be busy until the end of your shift , but it makes the time go by faster . You are also going to need exceptional people skills . You will be helping patients from different cultures , lifestyles , and all walks of life , so cultural sensitivity , customer service , and a non-judgmental demeanor are a must . Some days will be difficult , and some will be easier , but no matter what , the patient always comes first . Next , you are also going to have to be at least a little physically fit . Trust me when I say that it ’ s a lot of cardio ! You will sweat and get your steps in with this job . Being a clinical transporter further requires you to have a strong stomach . You will end up seeing a lot of grotesque substances . I think I have had a little bit of every bodily fluid on me at some point . You will see patients who have gone through many difficulties . Personally , I have seen shooting victims , car crash survivors in critical care , patients with terminal cancer , and patients in a vegetated state . With each one , you must keep a positive , upbeat attitude . We even transport patients to the morgue after they pass away . It takes someone who can see all of that and not let it affect them , or at least not let it show when you visit the next patient . Most importantly , it takes someone who is genuinely caring at heart . This is not a job to get “ just because .” You have to want to help people . That trait alone will get you far in this job .
A hospital is a lot like a human body . It ’ s a lot of different parts ( organs ) that all have different jobs , but that work in unison toward the same goal : keeping someone alive . Every part of the hospital has its own special job that needs to get done to help the patient get better . The doctors could be considered the brain , and the nurses and CNAs might be the heart . Transporters ? They ’ re the blood that flows throughout the body . All of the different organs are important , but without the blood traveling around , none of them would work . Patients need to go to different places and get different things done while staying in the hospital . That ’ s where clinical transporters step in , because if we don ’ t wheel ‘ em , they can ’ t heal ‘ em !
Eastern Florida State College is committed to equal access / equal opportunity in its programs , activities , and employment . For additional information , visit Eastern Florida State College : easternflorida . edu / go / equity
HS122024
Diagnostic
Medical Sonography