Paramedic

POSITION TITLE:
Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic

POSITION IDENTIFICATION:

Reports to: Supervisor/EMS Manager
Employees Supervised/Directed: EMT-B
FLSA Code: Non-Exempt

POSITION PURPOSE AND SUMMARY:

Under the Supervisor, the ideal incumbent will perform duties associated with providing emergency medical care to the sick and injured in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations and Ohio Ambulance Solutions policies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

The incumbent must possess and apply knowledge and skills necessary to perform the duties of an Emergency Medical Technician and Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic, in a dignified and compassionate manner, including but not limited to:

• Responding to emergency and non-emergency calls calmly, efficiently and promptly.
• Administering basic and advanced life support to patients at the scene, en route to the hospital and in a pre-hospital setting in accordance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations and standards.
• Assessing the nature and extent of injury or illness to establish and prioritize medical procedures to be followed.
• Extricating victims of accidents, sudden illness or entrapment using proper rescue and medical techniques.
• Treating patients at the scene, en route to the hospital, and in a pre-hospital setting in accordance with federal, state, local, laws, regulations and standards and in accordance with Ohio Ambulance Solutions policies, rules, and guidelines.
• Effectively communicating with professional medical personnel and treatment facilities to obtain instructions regarding further treatment and/ or to arrange reception of patients to the appropriate center.
• Maintaining order at scenes, including crowd disbursement and restraint of family and friends.
• Completing patient care forms, insurance forms, evaluation forms, and all other forms in a competent and timely fashion.
• Adhere to and follow all policies and procedures concerning safety and contamination by blood borne pathogens.
• Educate and/ train squad personnel, EMS trainees and the public.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO PATIENT PRIVACY:

The incumbent must perform all job responsibilities in a manner that protects patient privacy:

• The incumbent is expected to protect the privacy of all patient information in accordance with Ohio Ambulance Solutions Privacy Policies, procedures, and practices, as required by federal (and state) law, and in accordance with general principles of professionalism as a health care provider. Failure to comply with Ohio Ambulance Solutions policies and procedures on patient privacy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment or of membership or association with Ohio Ambulance Solutions.
• The incumbent may access protected health information and other patient information only to the extent that is necessary to complete your job duties. The incumbent may only share such information with those you have a need to know specific patient information you have in your possession to complete their job responsibilities related to treatment, payment or other company operations.
• The incumbent is encouraged and expected to report, without the threat of retaliation, any concerns regarding Ohio Ambulance Solutions policies and procedures on patient privacy and any observed practices in violation of that policy to the designated Privacy Officer.
• The incumbent is expected to actively participate in Company privacy training and is required to communicate privacy policy information to co-workers, students, patients and others in accordance with Ohio Ambulance Solutions Company Policy.

ADDITIONAL OBLIGATIONS AND SKILLS:

The incumbent must possess and apply knowledge and skills necessary to perform the duties of a driver of ambulance equipment, including but not limited to:

• Promptly responding to instructions from a dispatcher and driving and operating specially equipped emergency vehicles to specified locations at a safe and controlled speed, in accordance with federal, state, local laws, regulations and standards; and in accordance with Ohio Ambulance Solutions policies, rules, and guidelines.
• Assuring that vehicles are in good working condition at all times, are properly maintained and stocked, have all necessary equipment and reassure this equipment is in good working order at all time.
• Cleaning, organizing and restocking vehicles in a ready condition after each transport.
• Receiving requests for emergency and non-emergency ambulance service and other duties related to communication via two-way radio and other communication devices.
• Maintaining accurate records of ambulance equipment and other emergency equipment and/or personnel dispatched to each emergency and non-emergency request and other operation and administrative data as required to maintain the operational continuity of Ohio Ambulance Solutions and as directed by superiors.
• Properly document each transport on the approved Patient Care Report in accordance with Ohio Ambulance Solutions policies and procedures.
• Handling telephone communications professionally and efficiently with careful regard to the divulgence of information respecting confidentiality requests at all times.
• Coordinating requests for non-emergency transports in accordance with the nonemergency transport policies.
• Monitoring communication equipment to maintain contact with the dispatcher.
• Maintaining apparatus and equipment in accordance with all policies, procedures and direction.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROUTINE TASKS:

The incumbent must perform routine tasks in and around the ambulance, building, including but not limited to:

• Checking, restocking, inventorying and cleaning any apparatus operated by Ohio Ambulance Solutions.
• Cleaning, emptying trash, returning linens and other related duties in the station and/or vehicle.
• Representing the ambulance service while on duty at public service functions, expositions, and other public events.
• Providing ambulance stand-by services at sporting events or any other activities designated by the Supervisor or designee.
• Performing any other duty related to Ohio Ambulance Solutions as designated by the Supervisor or designee.

TRAITS AND QUALITIES:

The incumbent must also possess the following qualities and traits in order to accomplishment specified tasks, including but not limited to:

• Be a team player, as EMS is a team effort, and providers must provide necessary assistance to ensure system sanitation, readiness and adherence to quality assurance standards.
• Be flexible as emergency services operate on a 24-hour clock; the incumbent’s assigned work shift schedule may vary and the incumbent should be available to respond immediately for a call during the assigned work period, and the start and shift times may vary due to the nature of the business.
• Maintain a thorough working knowledge of local geography, which includes maps, streets, and grid book systems.
• Maintain a thorough working knowledge of applicable current standards of care, including equipment functions and uses.
• Assure that all certifications, licenses and registrations are up-to-date.
• Incumbent conducts themselves, in a courteous, helpful, dignified and professional manner at all times when dealing with patients, co-workers, supervisors and or the public.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Educational Requirements

High school diploma or a GED is not required, but preferred. Incumbent must have and maintain current state emergency medical technician and/ or paramedic certification (license, if applicable). An incumbent must also maintain the required annual continuing medical education credits as set forth by the State EMS office.

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations

The incumbent must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license or State Identification, current state EMT or Paramedic certification, ACLS (paramedics only), American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer and/ or American Heart Association BCLS certification, EVOC/EVDT certification, Hazardous Materials R & I, and other certifications as required. Ohio Ambulance Solutions requires incumbent to have and maintain ACLS certification and highly recommends the applying incumbent has and maintains PALS or APLS.

Minimum Experience, Abilities Required and Special Requirements

The incumbent must possess basic working knowledge of an IBM-compatible computer, and be able to enter necessary date into a computer.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The position requires significant physical strength and dexterity and the ability to function in very adverse environments with exposure to numerous safety risks typically found at emergency scenes. The following guidelines are used to describe the frequency of activities in this position: Occasionally equals 1%-33%; Frequently equals 34%-66%; and Continuously equals 67%-100% of a typical work day.

Standing/Walking:

Frequently to continuously when responding to calls. Standing or walking is optional while at rest at the facility. This usually includes: going to and from the emergency vehicle, getting patients from their locations, and rendering treatment. Most walking would be for short distances, as emergency vehicles are allowed to get as close to the location as possible. However, the incumbent must also be able to run these same distances, in case of an emergency where time is of the essence. Walking and running may vary, however, as the patient may be located inside a large, multi-floored facility. Standing, walking and running could be on all types of surfaces, including but not limited to: asphalt, cement, concrete, gravel, soft/ packed dirt, linoleum, wood, hardwood floors, etc. The individual must be able to go up and down slight inclines or declines that may be found at roadsides, agricultural areas, etc. At a location, standing would occur more often than walking or running. Standing would occur on the wide variety of surfaces mentioned above. Standing could last from a few minutes to hours, depending on the situation. Standing could occur in the standard erect position, the kneeling or squatting position, etc.

Sitting:

Frequently when responding to a location, the individual will sit in the emergency vehicle. The emergency vehicles are equipped with a standard installed vehicle seat. The time performing the sitting activity on a call would depend upon the specific situation.

Lifting and Carrying:

Frequently required to lift and carry weights ranging from a few pounds to ten (10) pound and above. Occasionally required to lift and carry weights scaled at above 100 pounds or more. Incumbents will need to lift and carry, with one team member, adult patients, lifting them from various positions (such as a bed or a chair) onto various patient movement devices, such as an ambulance stretcher, a stair chair, long back boards, etc., and then efficiently move them into an ambulance. Other heavier objects in the high range category would be 5-foot tall, 10-inch diameter oxygen cylinders, and medical equipment boxes. The oxygen cylinders can be made of quarter-inch steel and weigh up to 113 pounds. The medical equipment boxes can weigh approximately fifty pounds or more.

Bending and Stooping:

Frequently throughout a work shift the incumbent will be required to bend in a range of 1 to 90 degrees. The average situation will require the individual to work in a range of 35 to 65 degree bends. This would involve: lifting a patient, lifting equipment, treating a patient at ground level, sitting on a bench located in the ambulance. This activity may be prolonged and last up to 30 minutes or more. During any given call, the provider may bend and/ or stoop 1 to 15 times per incident.

Crouching and Kneeling:

Frequently, crouching and kneeling may be performed when on the scene picking up equipment or assisting patients. The actual number of times this is done depends on the particular incident but may be up to 15 times for a duration up to 30 minutes or greater.

Climbing:

Occasionally, this is required when climbing steps up and down with a patient on a stretcher or another device, and when entering or exiting the emergency vehicle. Generally, the climbing would require that the incumbent be lifting and carrying heavy objects such as a stretcher or another device with a patient on it. Balancing may be required when backing down staircases.

Reaching:

Frequently to continuously throughout the work shift in order to review monitoring equipment, operate communication equipment, administer oxygen and operate equipment. The incumbent may also be required to reach in precarious positions, such as in a vehicle, which has been crushed in an accident, or in other confined spaces. If working inside the ambulance en route to a medical facility, the incumbent will need to reach to access the patient and supplies. Reaching will involve partial to full extension of the arms.

Pushing and Pulling:

Frequently the activities that would require the most force in pushing and pulling is when removing or returning a gurney to the emergency vehicle with and without a patient on the gurney. The weight required to push/pull will vary, depending on the weight on the gurney. Slight pushing will be required if the incumbent is performing CPR, which can require repetitive pushing and may range from a few minutes to hours. Pushing and pulling is required when operating and closing vehicle doors.

Handling and Grasping:

Continuously, while working at any given location, continual bilateral gross manipulation is performed in this position. This may be involved when: opening/closing doors; and using, handling, carrying and /or operating medical equipment boxes that may weigh approximately fifty (50) pounds or more, such as stretcher rails, various handles attached to equipment, and tools. The arm and hand must be able to perform all types of positions, including supination and pronation.

Hyperextension, extension and flexion of the fingers will be involved, ulnar and radial deviation, abduction and adduction of the hand and wrist will be required. A wide variety of grasping will be required, such as cylindrical grasping, palmer grasping, hook grasping, tip grasping and lateral and spherical grasping.

HAZARDS:

The incumbent, when responding to emergencies, can be exposed to dust, fumes, gases, fire, smoke, adverse weather conditions, and chemicals. There is potential for bodily harm or death from violent patients, bystanders, or other dangers. At all time the incumbent is expected to adhere to all applicable policies and procedures concerning safety and the prevention of contamination and infection due to blood borne pathogens.

OTHER PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Maintain balance and strength in awkward positions.
• Speak clearly, even under stressful circumstances.
• Accurately communicate ideas orally and in writing in English.
• Respond physically with speed.
• Speak at proper volumes for appropriate situations.
• Must get along with others.

MENTAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION

• Handle a significant number of stressful situations, and be able to function calmly, coolly and collectedly under all types of stressful situations.
• Get along well with diverse personalities.
• Communicate with patients and others with empathy and respect.
• Create and maintain a positive and cooperative working environment in stressful situations.
• Work smoothly and professionally in an environment where teamwork is essential.
• Analyze and interpret difficult and complex patient care and personnel situations.
• Work independently with minimal supervision for assigned tasks.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Anticipate and identify problems and take initiative to prevent or correct them.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of personnel within the medical community, Ohio Ambulance Solutions, outside agencies, patients, and members of the community.
• Understand and follow federal, state and local laws, and Ohio Ambulance Solutions policies, procedures and rules.
• Follow orders.
• Remember and apply concepts, knowledge and principles.
• Appropriately deal with stress and maintain composure when encountering serious injuries or illnesses or difficult patients/family members/facility staff.

WE ARE YOUR CAREER DESTINATION!

SALARY
Salary based on experience starting at a rate of $15.00/Hour

BENEFITS

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Auto Club
• 401(k)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Scholarship Program
• Referral Bonuses
• And MUCH MORE!!!

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this description is designed to indicate the general nature, essential job functions and level of work performed by incumbent within this position with or without reasonable accommodation. It is not to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and working conditions required of employees assigned to this position. Management has the sole discretion to add or modify the duties of the position and to designate other functions at any time. This position description is not an employment agreement or contract.

Apply now