paramedic

General Description

An employee in this class performs professional advanced life support work in operating an approved mobile medical unit, rescuing victims and performing pre-hospital advanced life support including the administration of life sustaining treatment to patients on-site and while enroute to hospital. Work involves responding to the scene of an emergent and non-emergent call, applying necessary medical treatment to the sick or injured persons, and transporting persons to a medical facility.

The employee serves as a member of an ambulance crew and is responsible for the medical care administered to the patient. This position is differentiated from an Emergency Medical Technician of other certification levels by the additional requirements but not limited to performing defibrillation and Cardioversion, the application of 12-lead ECG and manual interpretation, using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), decompression of a tension pneumothorax by use of a needle decompression needle, perfuming cricothyrotomy for relief of upper airway obstructions, and performing gastric suctioning.

The employee is also responsible for maintaining supplies, performing janitorial duties at the stations, and performing miscellaneous office duties. Work is subject to both inside and outside environmental conditions, extremes in temperatures, noises, and vibrations, hazards associated with emergency medical work including exposures to fumes, odors, dust, gases, poor ventilations, and oils. Because of the nature of work, the employee is exposed to human blood and is subject to the OSHA requirements on Blood Borne pathogens. The employee is exposed to normal hazards of emergency rescue work, including risk of exposure to infectious diseases. Employees report to a shift supervisor and are evaluated through conferences, observations, discussion of procedures at emergency scenes, and public feedback.

Duties and Responsibilities

The functions listed below are those that represent most of the time spent working in this class. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the class as necessary.

Essential Functions:

Responds to emergency calls as a Paramedic on an Advanced Life support unit, performs necessary rescue work in accordance with established protocols for Basic and Advanced Life Support; administers necessary emergency medical care requiring the use of suction units, immobilization equipment, intravenous infusions, syringes and medications, Cardiac monitoring/defibrillator/pacer, and performance of intubation/advanced airway management.

Responds to non-emergency calls, such as requests to transport patients from hospitals to their homes or from local medical facility to a specialized medical center. Participates in a continuous training program to improve competence in medical technical work and in ambulance service and operation; Studies Street and road patterns and networks of the county in order that future runs may be made with minimum difficulty and delay.

Additional Duties:

Inspects and test ambulances and their equipment, maintaining proper inventory of equipment and supplies; cleans and sanitizes ambulance and equipment daily; ensures that they are in proper and good working order; makes routine adjustments and makes reports of minor defects for specialized attention.

Maintain cleanliness and performs minor maintenance of Emergency Medical Services facilities and stations.

Aids members of volunteer emergency medical service organizations in County, as requested.

Performs other related work as required or requested.

Requirements:

Responsibilities, Requirements, and Impacts

Considerable knowledge of and skill in administering emergency medical procedures and techniques at the paramedic level.

Considerable knowledge of anatomy and physiology.

Considerable knowledge of intravenous therapy and skill in recognizing adverse conditions.

Considerable knowledge of equipment and supplies employed in the emergency care of patients and accident victims.

Considerable knowledge of county geography and locations of roads and streets.

Skill in recognizing trauma and the signs and symptoms of medical emergencies to determine the appropriate treatment.

Ability to perform duties in accordance with established emergency medical procedures and techniques, medical protocols, and standing orders.

Ability to work with diverse socio-economic population based on the unique situations encountered.

Ability to respond quickly, calmly, and safely in emergencies and stressful situations.

Ability to safely drive an emergency vehicle in adverse conditions and according to motor vehicle laws.

Ability to communicate effectively in a tactful and firm manner with the public.

Ability to deal with stress and the dead and dying patient.

Ability to accurately record services provided on required forms.

Ability to work with co-workers, law enforcement personnel, fire personnel, medical providers, patients and the public.

Ability to maintain vehicles, equipment, and facilities.

Ability to maintain confidentiality of patient contact.

People Responsibility:

People include co-workers, workers in other areas or agencies and the public.

Provides information, guidance or assistance to people that directly facilitates task accomplishment; may give instructions or assignments to helpers or assistants.

Asset Responsibility:

Assets responsibility refers to the responsibility for achieving economies or preventing loss within the organization.

Requires some responsibility for achieving minor economies and/or preventing minor losses through the handling of or accounting for materials, supplies or small amounts of money.

Mathematical Requirements:

Mathematics requires the use of symbols, numbers, and formulas to solve mathematical problems.

Uses addition and subtraction, multiplication, and division and/or calculates ratios, rates and percentages.

Communications Requirements:

Communication involves the ability to read, write, and speak.

Reads technical instructions, procedures manuals and charts to solve practical problems, such as assembly instruction for tools, routine office equipment operating instructions, and methods and procedures for investigations and in drawing and layout work; composes routine reports and specialized reports, forms, and business letters, with proper format; speaks compound sentences using normal grammar and word form.

Judgement requirements:

Judgment requirements refer to the frequency and complexity of judgments and decisions given the stability of the work environments, the nature and type of guidance, and the breadth of impact of the judgments and decisions.

Responsible for long range goals, planning and methodologies. Decision-making is a focus of the job, affecting entire organization and surrounding population; works in an unstable environment with frequent and significant changes in conditions.

Complexity of Work:

Complexity addresses the analysis, initiative, ingenuity, concentration and creativity required by the job and the presence of any unusual pressures present in the job.

Coordinates work involving guidelines and rules with constant problem solving; requires continuous, close attention for accurate results and frequent exposure to unusual pressure.

Impact of Errors:

Impact of errors refers to consequences such as damage to equipment and property, loss of data, exposure of the organization to legal liability, and injury or death for individuals.

The impact of errors is moderately serious – affects work unit and may affect other units or citizens or loss of life could occur, but probability is low.

Physical Demands:

Physical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.

Performs medium to heavy work that involves walking, standing, stooping, lifting, digging, pushing and raising objects and involves exerting between 20 to 50 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis and 50 to 100 pounds of force on an occasional basis.

May lift 200 plus pounds, including moving patients to safety or onto a stretcher.

Equipment Usage:

Equipment usage involves responsibility for materials, machines, tools, equipment, work aids, and products.

Leads or handles machines, tools, equipment, or work aids involving moderate latitude for judgment regarding attainment of a standard or in selecting appropriate items.

Unavoidable Hazards:

Unavoidable hazards refer to the job conditions that may lead to injury or health hazards even though precautions have been taken.

Involves routine and frequent exposure to radiation, disease/pathogens, potentially violent environments, traffic hazards and inclement weather.

Safety of Others:

Safety of others refers to the level of responsibility for the safety of others, either inherent in the job or to ensure the safety of the public. (Does not include safety of subordinates).

Requires responsibility for the safety and health of others and for occasional enforcement of the laws and standards of public health and safety.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Graduate from a High School or possess a GED. 1-2 years' experience in advanced emergency medical service work. Or an equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required Knowledge, skills, and abilities. Associates degree in EMS or related field. National Registry Paramedic Certification. Must possess a valid state driver's license.

Special Certifications and Licenses:

NC Paramedic Certification.

Must possess a valid state driver's license.

Certification in CPR.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance

Stokes County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires Stokes County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.