Emergency Medical Technician

Description

SAFETY

1. Safety Culture: The EMT will lead by example to ensure that all activities performed while on duty at BRS are done in a manner to ensure the safety of BRS personnel, our patients, and the community. This includes attitude toward safety such as, but not limited to: vehicle safety, OSHA compliance, scene management, routine facilities maintenance, etc.

2. Quality Assurance – Readiness: Ensures that in-service vehicles, supplies, controlled substances, and equipment have been thoroughly checked by all BRS personnel. Ensures that all reported discrepancies are corrected at the earliest possible time. Documents and reports discrepancies to the appropriate supervisory officer.

ETHICAL CONDUCT

3. Work Attitude: The EMT will: take the initiative to complete work assignments without prompting; exert maximum effort and serve as a role model for coworkers; demonstrate persistence during the performance of daily duties; bring a high level of energy to job performance; and maintain an optimistic demeanor during job performance.

4. Acting with Integrity: The EMT will: aim to reduce waste in daily operations; follow all appropriate ethical standards in the workplace; consistently act honestly and display the highest level of integrity; be accountable and accept personal responsibility for her or his own actions; and understand the importance of ethical behavior in the face of adversity or contrary public opinion.

SERVICE EXCELLENCE

5. Communication: The EMT will understand the importance of effective communication with key stakeholders including but not limited to: coworkers, patients, customers, other emergency responders, dispatching personnel, healthcare professionals, the public, etc.

6. Problem Solving: The EMT will: use current information to make educated decisions; have a basic understanding of how analytical decision are made to help ensure clinical and operational excellence; be able to concentrate and use information gathering skills to make immediate coherent decisions; and have basic knowledge of all reasonable job functions of all other field providers.

7. Executing Tasks – Response: The EMT will respond to all requests in a timely and efficient manner. Response to emergency assignments with an “out of chute” time of 120 seconds from dispatch to unit response. For medical transports and interfacility transports, arrival to the patient’s location (floor, residence, etc.) five (5) minutes or more early. Measurement methods include ePCR/dispatch data, direct observation, and team feedback.

8. Executing Tasks – Patient Care: The EMT will provide excellent patient care based upon: knowledge of current EMS district and/or state protocols and QA/QI initiatives; internal BRS benchmarks; and evidence-based medicine or best practices.

9. Quality Assurance – Documentation: The EMT will take the initiative to complete and review their own patient care and billing documentation for completeness and accuracy prior to the end of every shift worked. Measured by documented random sampling of shift documentation, documentation noted to be incomplete by the business office or other QA personnel

10. Quality Improvement – Competency & Education: The EMT will complete knowledge, psychomotor, and affective domain education assignments, simulation programs (simple or high-fidelity), and other programs as assigned by BRS, Vermont EMS District 12, and the Vermont Department of Health Office of EMS and Injury Prevention in a timely fashion.

11. Managing Significant Incidents: Responds to multi-patient incidents and serves as an officer in the Incident Command System depending on the complexity and jurisdiction of the response.

COMMUNITY FOCUSED

12. Civic Responsibility: The EMT will: understand the value of giving within the community; understand the balance of success of the organization with that of society and maintains focus on doing what is in the best interest of the patient first and foremost; set a good example for coworkers and consistently behave in accordance with law and policy; and understand that patient advocacy is important to the organization.

13. Social Knowledge: The EMT will understand the importance of cultural diversity; have rudimentary knowledge of cultural relationships and geographical layout within the BRS area including local history; understand various cultural and religious perspectives on ethics and be prepared to act in accordance with beliefs that may differ from their personal perspective; understand the laws and regulations that apply to the daily operation of the organization and ensure that the organization maintains appropriate compliance.

PRIDE

14. Work Habits & Attitudes: The EMT will take the initiative to complete the job at hand without prompting including but not limited to: all patient care assignments; general custodial and housekeeping duties; vehicle cleanliness; initiative to handle routine and special projects; and accomplish other BRS duties as assigned by a Field Supervisor, Managing EMS Officer (Director), or the Executive Director.

15. Motivating Others: The EMT will understand the importance of: her or his role as a clinical team member within the organization; and of organizational goals and objectives and ensure all coworkers understand the same.

16. Learning: The EMT will demonstrate the importance of: developing good learning strategies; maintaining a level of intellectual curiosity; continuous learning; and seeking feedback regarding personal performance to continuously grow. Measured by formal education completed, direct observation, and team feedback.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

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 of a typical work day:

Potential and exisiting mployees are evaluated on their ability to perform the following tasks:

HAZARDS: Occasionally. The employee, when responding to emergency situations, may be exposed to dust, fumes, gases, fire, smoke, adverse weather conditions, and chemicals. There is also exposure to body substances that may contain infectious materials that could cause illness or death. There is potential for bodily harm or death from violent patients, bystanders, or other dangers. At all times the employee is expected to adhere to all applicable Policies and Procedures concerning safety and the prevention of contamination and infection due to bloodborne pathogens

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Maintain balance and strength in awkward positions;

• Speak clearly under stressful circumstances;

• Accurately communicate ideas orally and in writing in English;

• Respond physically with speed;

• Operate effectively in loud environments; and

• Get along well 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 minimum 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, the Squad, outside agencies, patients, and members of the community; Understand and follow federal, state and local laws, and Squad policies, procedures, and rules; Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; Follow orders; Remember and apply concepts, knowledge and principles; Analyze and interpret situations; and Appropriately deal with stress and maintain composure when encountering serious injuries or illnesses

Qualifications

1. Certification/Licensure:

• National Registry of EMTs Emergency Medical Technician certification and Vermont Office of EMS EMT licensure (or ability to obtain with NREMT certification)
• Valid Driver’s License
• Valid AHA or ARC BLS Provider CPR
• Preferred criteria include: ITLS or PHTLS certification, PEPP or EPC or PEARS certification

2. Education:

• Possession of a high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED)
• Preferred criteria include: associate, bachelor, or graduate level degree from a regionally accredited post-secondary educational institution

3. Length of Service: Preferred criterial include: 1 or more years of experience as a field provider at the EMT level

4. Skills: Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing. Specifically:

a. Ability to utilize word processing and spreadsheet software to prepare letters, memo, and reports. Preferred criteria include the ability to use the Microsoft Office or similar software including but not limited to: Word, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, SharePoint

b. Ability to identify and operate within the incident management system. Possession of NIMS ICS 100 and 200; IS-700 & IS-800. Preferred criteria include successful completion of ICS 300 and/or ICS 400