Practical, transporter-facing resources - built for the people doing the work. Department-level operational libraries live with NAHTM; this page is for you.
Rate yourself honestly against the core competencies below. Anything you can't check with confidence is your next learning target - and exactly what CHT certification validates.
| Competency | Can you say yes to this? |
|---|---|
| Patient identification | I verify two patient identifiers before every transport, every time - no exceptions for "quick trips." |
| Oxygen & lines | I can calculate remaining O₂ cylinder time, and I know how to manage IV lines, catheters, and drains in motion. |
| Safe handling | I use proper body mechanics and transfer equipment on every move - and I ask for help before I need it. |
| Infection prevention | I know isolation categories on sight, the PPE each requires, and how to clean equipment between patients. |
| Condition awareness | I know the signs of patient deterioration during transport and exactly who to call and what to say if I see them. |
| Communication | I give a clear handoff at every destination: who the patient is, why they're here, and anything the receiving team should know. |
| Service recovery | When a patient is frustrated by a delay, I can acknowledge, explain, and de-escalate without blaming another department. |
Download the printable checklist (PDF) Free to copy for individual and department use.
A typical acute-care shift: report and equipment check at clock-in; morning discharge and procedure runs stacking fast; a STAT ED-to-CT that jumps the queue; the mid-shift equipment sweep nobody sees but everybody depends on; afternoon discharges that decide whether the ED boards tonight; handoff notes for the next shift. It's physical, it's fast, and it's the connective tissue of the entire hospital day.
Master the seven competencies above, complete foundational training (HPT or equivalent department onboarding), then pursue certification through Impact Training Company - directly or via your facility's CHTI instructor.
Policy libraries, SOPs, and manager knowledge bases are member benefits of NAHTM - the professional association for transport leadership.
Assessment, body mechanics, SPHM equipment, bariatric moves, and asking for help - the principles that protect your patient and your career.
How the 10-minute rule works, what sending units prepare, and why readiness rules are fairness at scale.
Ticket to Ride, STAT, SPHM, throughput, ED boarding - 26 terms of the job, defined the way the profession uses them.
Interactive calculator for leaders: estimate what transporter turnover, transport delays, and handling injuries cost your department - and the projected return of a certification program. Launching on Impact Training Online.
The five core practices for moving patients safely under Transmission-Based Precautions - masking, PPE, equipment disinfection, and more, grounded in CDC/WHO guidance.
The metrics strong departments watch: average response time, trip turnaround, trips per transporter per shift, delay and cancellation rates, and patient-handling injury counts. Benchmark data and peer discussion live inside NAHTM.
If you checked all seven, you're ready. Make it official.
Pursue CHT certification