Sample Position Description—Critical Care Transport Physician

Position Description

• Practices in accordance with philosophy, policies, procedures, and stan­dards of the hospital; functions within the guidelines of the protocols for the transport program that are reviewed and agreed on by medical and nursing directors.

• As team leader/member during transport, functions to identify, plan, implement, and evaluate the stabilization and emergency care of acutely ill neonates, infants, children, and adolescents in collaboration with the MCP. The transport team physician is responsible for obtaining pertinent mater­nal, neonatal, and childhood histories, performing physical examinations (neonates through adolescents), and formulating differential diagnoses and care management plans. He or she is responsible for performing necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as indicated for identification and management of problems, including but not limited to, umbilical catheter placement, airway management, needle aspiration of the chest, chest tube placement, and interpretation of laboratory and radiographic data.

• Provides family-centered care to meet such family needs as psycho­social support, education, and transfer planning in conjunction with referral staff.

• Participates in educational and professional development of transport and other team members.

• Represents the hospital to health care professionals in referring hospitals.

• Maintains effective communication with transport team members, referral staff, and families.

• Educates referral staff through informal teaching and planned educational conferences.

• Initiates and participates in educational, research, professional, and organizational activities that contribute to improving patient care, the transport program operation, and the individual’s own professional development.

Reporting Relationship

Reports to:

• Medical director of the transport program for the supervision and guidance in expanded role function.

• MCP as designated for medical supervision concerning the management of individual neonatal and pediatric patients during transport.

Requirements

1. Must be board certified or eligible in pediatrics (and have additional formal training or certification in transport and acute care medicine).

2. Current in Basic Life Support for the Health Care Provider, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. Certification in NRP and ATLS.

3. Computer literacy.

4. Holds current passport or is eligible to apply for one, if program intends to perform international transports.

5. Holds active, unrestricted state medical license and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) certificate.

Major Responsibilities and Duties

I. Patient care activities

A. Obtains pertinent maternal, neonatal, and pediatric histories with emphasis on risk factors and their implications for problems.

B. Performs pertinent physical examination using techniques of observation, inspection, auscultation, palpation, and percussion.

C. Formulates differential diagnosis and a plan for management of existing and potential problems in collaboration with the MCP.

D. Performs necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as indi­cated for identification and management for problems, including (but not limited to):

1. Peripheral percutaneous arterial sampling and catheter placement

2. Umbilical venous and arterial catheterization

3. Airway management, including assessment, stabilization, bag­mask oxygenation and ventilation, endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy management, and rescue airways

4. Needle aspiration of pleural space and chest tube placement

5. Interpretation of laboratory and radiographic data

6. Insertion of central venous line for central venous access

7. Insertion of intraosseous needle for emergency vascular access

8. Spinal immobilization

9. Trauma care

10. Blood drawing and insertion of peripheral catheters

11. Clinical management for resuscitation of neonatal, pediatric, and adolescent patients, including necessary pharmacologic support.

E. Performs in accordance with standards of care and accurately documents delivery of care.

F. Communicates information about the patient's diagnosis, plan of management, and prognosis to the referring and receiving physi­cians, parents, and other members of the health care team.

G. Assesses parents' psychosocial needs, and initiates referral to appropriate consultants.

H. Obtains informed consent from parents or guardians.

I. Provides ongoing monitoring, assessment, and appropriate interventions in transit.

J. Ensures patient safety in the transport process.

K. Completes documentation in an accurate and timely manner, and transfers care of the patient to the receiving hospital staff.

II. Education

A. Contributes to community outreach and education.

B. Assists in the assessment of staff developmental needs, and participates actively in plans to meet those needs.

C. Participates in teaching or coordination of in-service classes or workshops for the transport staff.

D. Serves as a preceptor in the training of future transport team members.

III. Operation of transport equipment

A. Participates in the ongoing evaluation of transport equipment needs. Reports and documents transport equipment repairs as needed to biomedical engineering.

B. Demonstrates knowledge of aircraft and ambulance operating procedures and safety practices.

IV. Special assignments/project responsibilities

A. Assists with medical procedures in the NICU/PICU and emer­gency department on request.

B. Performs the following transport quality improvement activities:

1. Participates in, supports, and documents evidence of a sys­tematic quality improvement program that includes effective mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the patient care provided by the transport service.

2. Helps to ensure appropriate and adequate response to findings from quality improvement activities.

3. Maximizes the efficient use of resources available to provide neonatal-pediatric transports.

4. Identifies opportunities to improve care.

V. Leadership

A. Initiates and participates in the implementation of change in trans­port policies, procedures, and/or practice to enhance the quality of patient care.

B. Participates with transport staff in problem identification, goal set­ting, and transport care delivery evaluation.

C. Uses previous clinical experience and knowledge to identify poten­tial patient care problems related to transport.

D. Serves as a resource or consultant to nursing and medical staff regarding neonatal and pediatric transport.

VI. Professional accountability

A. Demonstrates continued professional growth through continuing education and review of current literature pertaining to neonatal- pediatric transport.

B. Maintains licensure, certifications, and competency through required training and/or education.

C. Maintains professional relationships with community physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals.

D. Participates in peer review of the transport team members and case reviews with the medical director.

VII. Research

A. Identifies researchable patient care problems related to transport.

B. Uses evidence-based research findings in patient care.

C. Cooperates and/or collaborates with other health care team mem­bers in the conduct of research studies.

VIII. Physical capabilities

A. Frequently requires sitting, standing, and walking for long periods. Requires bending, crouching, and kneeling. Requires use of hands, keyboarding, fine motor skills, frequent lifting up to 50 lb, occa­sional moving up to 250 lb. Must be able to work in small confined spaces and be able to work in a mobile environment, either ground or air.

B. There is a potential for regular exposure to patients with infectious diseases requiring observance of appropriate precautions.

C. Flexible working hours required to provide 24 hour/day, 7 day/ week coverage, including rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, and on call.

D. Dependability in regard to attendance at work, team meetings, transport meetings, committee meetings, etc.

IX. Environmental conditions

Indoor and outdoor environments with possible exposure to infec­tious, biological, and chemical agents. Occasionally requires working in proximity to sources of radiation. Work area includes riding in enclosed spaces such as ambulances, helicopters, and airplanes. Work environment commonly provides exposure to high noise levels.

6.