State of Maryland

A Patient/Client Driver is full performance level work transporting aged, physically or mentally ill patients or developmentally disabled clients who are residents of State treatment facilities or participants in community-based programs. Employees in this classification do not supervise.

Employees receive general supervision from a healthcare staff member or other designated supervisor. Employees in this classification may be required to work day or evening shifts which may include holidays and weekends. Employees may be subject to call-in on a 24 hour basis. Employees in this class are required to transport patients and clients throughout the State, and on occasion may be required to transport them to other states. Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and the spread of disease. The work requires assisting ambulatory residents and moving and positioning patients who are on stretchers or in wheelchairs.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Patient Client Driver Trainee and Patient Client Driver are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Patient Client Driver Trainee performs duties under close supervision while the Patient Client Driver performs the full range of duties under general supervision.

Drives vans, buses, trucks, automobiles and ambulances to transport patients and clients to various destinations within and outside of the State;

Transports patients and clients to and from medical appointments, schools, job interviews, business appointments, court appearances, field trips and recreational activities;

Moves patients and clients on stretchers or wheelchairs into and out of the vehicle and positions and secures patients and clients in vehicles;

Plans travel routes that are safe, timely and cost efficient;  

Inspects vehicles to ensure proper operating conditions, makes minor adjustments to vehicles and performs routine emergency repairs;

Assists healthcare staff in providing basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to patients and clients who become ill or injured while in transit;

Calms distressed or combative patients and clients; Reports dangerous or unusual behavior exhibited by patients and clients to treating clinicians;

Completes and maintains transportation logs, schedules and mileage and maintenance reports;

Attends in-service training courses to maintain CPR and first aid certification and to keep abreast of changes and innovations in the field, such as infection control and client restraint techniques;

Reports facts concerning accidents, abuse, neglect or emergencies to hospital personnel, client care staff or law enforcement officials;

May pick up and deliver linens, supplies, equipment, medications, lab specimens, donated items, mail and payroll when necessary;

May schedule patients and clients for transportation services;

May transport hazardous, infectious and contaminated materials and ensure that materials are transported in accordance with applicable regulations;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of traffic laws and regulations and the conditions for safe driving in all kinds of weather and road conditions;

Knowledge of the operation, care and maintenance of automotive vehicles including vans, buses, trucks, automobiles and ambulances;

Knowledge of the procedures for transporting patients and clients;

Knowledge of regulations related to transporting hazardous, infectious and contaminated materials;

Ability to move patients and clients into and out of vehicles;

Ability to perform minor repairs on vehicles and to operate special equipment on these vehicles, such as fire extinguishers and lifts;

Ability to perform CPR and first aid on patients and clients in emergency situations;

Ability to complete and maintain transportation logs, schedules and mileage and maintenance records;

Ability to follow directions;

 Ability to interpret road maps.

1.Employees must possess or obtain a Class C non-commercial driver’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

2.Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which involve the operation of large passenger vehicles. Employees assigned these duties will be required to possess a driver’s license of the appropriate class valid in the State of Maryland.

3. Employees in this classification will be required to successfully complete and maintain current certification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, violence management and basic first aid training.

1.Employees may be subject to call-in 24 hours a day and, therefore, may be required to provide the employer with a telephone number where they can be reached.

2.Some positions in this classification may be assigned duties which require the employee to operate a vehicle with a manual transmission.

3.Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.