Non-Emergency Patient Transport

 Career in Non-Emergency Patient Transport

Ambulance Victoria and Pro-Medic Services Victoria (PSV) provides Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPT) in Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria to both public and private hospitals, diagnostic facilities, and private individuals.   On a recent SEEK advertisement for a role as a Patient Transport Officer (PTO), details of the key duties of the PTO were published, and include – 

• Ensuring full compliance with organisational policies and procedures
• Acting as the primary carer in the assessment, treatment and transport management of patients
• Performing as part of a team to deliver high quality treatment in a timely, safe and efficient manner
• Ensuring compliance with patient care documentation requirements
• Adhering to all relevant regulations and clinical practice
• Maintaining currency of qualifications by undertaking training and updates as required
• Maintaining of work areas

The advertisement goes on to state that the successful candidate should be able to demonstrate - 

• Ability to take a leadership role within the team to ensure high standards of patient care and safety
• Clear communication and good interpersonal skills
• Able to work reasonable additional hours if required
• Physically capable of performing patient transfers

PTO’s are not paramedics but, rather, they fulfill the vital role of transporting non-critical patients to hospitals, clinics, etc.  To become a Patient Transport Officer (PTO), one needs to complete a minimum of that HLT31120 Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport.  This course is offered at a few tertiary institutions in Victoria, as well as the Australian Paramedical College and St. John Ambulance Victoria, which is one of the largest providers of Non-Emergency Patient Transport in Victoria.  Many graduates of this diploma choose to work part-time or casually in the industry while pursuing further study at university to become a paramedic.