Paramedic I - 111616 - 00085

The purpose of this classification is to respond to emergency medical calls, perform extrication and life rescue, provide advanced life support to sick/injured persons in pre-hospital settings, performing Rapid Sequence Intubation and Cricothyrotomy when needed. Duties and responsibilities include maintaining readiness for emergency response, responding to emergency calls, assessing condition of patients, providing advanced life support at emergency scenes, transporting patients to medical facilities, driving ambulances, operating/utilizing medical equipment, preparing charts and records, and performing other tasks as assigned. Reports to Ambulance Services Assistant Director and Supervisor.

Maintains a state of readiness/preparation for medical emergency response; performs daily inspections and maintenance of vehicles/equipment; checks/maintains stock of equipment and supplies on ambulance and in EMS station; re-loads equipment and apparatus following response to emergency calls.
 
Responds to emergency calls for medical assistance, hazardous materials incidents, motor vehicle accidents, fires,
natural disasters, crime scenes explosions, multiple-casualty incidents, trapped persons, or other emergency situations; coordinates activities between medical team and emergency responders from other agencies; maintains mutual aid with other counties.
 
Operates an ambulance to respond to emergency calls; performs driving functions in a safe and efficient manner under various conditions, including in day/night hours, in congested traffic, in adverse weather conditions, and in emergency situations involving speeds in excess of posted limits; determines best route, using a computer aided mapping system, to reach location of emergency calls.
 
Conducts patient assessments; assesses nature and severity of illness/injury and identifies life threatening problems;
determines/prioritizes appropriate medical treatment/procedures and need for additional assistance; performs patient
triage; takes and records patient's vital signs; performs physical examinations and obtains patient history; assesses status of patient's neurological system, cardiovascular system, circulatory system, skeletal system, orthopedic system, motor and sensory skills, and level of consciousness.
 
Administers basic and advanced life support care at emergency scene in accordance with established medical standards, which may include providing advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), international trauma life support (ITLS), advanced airway management, CPR, and/or drug treatments; performs invasive and non-invasive procedures on patients with life-threatening and non life-threatening conditions, per established procedures or as authorized/directed by physicians; responds to cardiac and respiratory emergencies; performs cardiac monitoring and defibrillation; maintains circulation and controls bleeding; provides spinal management and immobilization; provides fluid resuscitation by IV; manages trauma injuries, bleeding, and post-traumatic shock; assists with childbirth; administers medications as appropriate; observes, records, and monitors patient's condition and effects of medication and performs rapid sequence intubation according to established medical standards.
 

Provides assistance in vehicle stabilization and extrication of trapped victims; performs rapid extrication in case of
fire/explosive situations; provides critical intervention and life saving measures to victims trapped in special
circumstances.
 
Communicates with medical personnel at emergency treatment facility to convey patient's condition, obtain
instructions regarding further treatment, and arrange for reception of victims at treatment facility.
 
Transports patients to medical facilities; stabilizes patients for hospital transport; performs physical lifting techniques associated with moving patients between incident site, stretcher, or ambulance; restrains combative/uncooperative persons per established procedures; provides assistance in emergency room as needed.
 
Assists in identifying unsafe circumstances, maintaining safety at incident scenes, identifying hazards at incident scenes, and removing individuals from unsafe areas.
 
Completes required records/reports on all emergency incidents; creates patient charts and provides charts to hospital personnel as appropriate; enters data relating to patient care into computer.
 
Provides reassurance, comfort, counseling, or mediation to patients and family members in accordance with HIPPA laws.
 
Performs coroner's duties in cases of homicide, suicide, or other deaths; conducts initial investigations into deaths; prepares narrative of findings for review by medical examiner; notifies next-of-kin of deaths; transports bodies to morgue or funeral home.
 
Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals; takes appropriate measures to prevent disease transmission or exposure to bodily fluids.
 
Operates or utilizes various emergency vehicles and emergency/medical equipment, tools and supplies, which may include an ambulance, extrication tools, blood pressure cuff, cardiac monitor, glucose monitor, defibrillator,
endotracheal tube, external pacing device, 12 lead ECG airway equipment, intravenous pump, laryngoscope, oxygen terminal, pulse oximetry monitor, CPAP, auto-ventilator, splinting devices, suction equipment, stretcher, stairchair stretcher, forceps, syringe, thermometer, portable ventilator, pediatric equipment, medical supplies, radio communications equipment, and general office equipment.
 
Performs general maintenance tasks necessary to keep vehicles, equipment and tools in operable condition, which may include inspecting/testing equipment, replacing parts, checking fluid levels, refueling vehicles, or washing/cleaning equipment; decontaminates ambulance interior and related equipment; disposes of biomedical waste materials per established procedures; re-stocks medical supplies following each call; monitors equipment operations to maintain efficiency and safety; reports faulty equipment.
 
Maintains inventory levels of departmental supplies; checks expiration dates of drugs/supplies; initiates requests for
new or replacement materials.
 
Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, logs, checklists, medical record documentation, patient charts, incident forms, or other documents.
 
Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, patient records, policies, procedures, protocols, medical books,
medical charts, maps, manuals, catalogs, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
 
Operates a computer to enter, retrieve, review or modify data; verifies accuracy of entered data and makes corrections; utilizes Microsoft Access, mapping programs, automated run tracking systems, or other software programs.
 
Maintains current manuals, policies/procedures, bulletins, map books, continuing quality improvement forms, and
reference materials for reference/review.
 
Communicates with supervisor, employees, other departments, dispatchers, law enforcement personnel, fire personnel, hospital personnel, medical professionals, property owners/occupants, patients/victims, family members, the public, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, review status of patients, exchange information, or resolve problems.
 
Communicates via telephone and/or two-way radio; provides information and assistance; takes and relays messages or directs calls to appropriate personnel; responds to requests for service or assistance; returns calls as necessary;
communicates effectively and coherently over radio channels while initiating and responding to radio communications.
 
Promotes positive public relations; provides education to the public regarding issues such as public health, life safety, first aid, CPR, or emergency care; provides tours of ambulances and stations.
 
Provides "standby" coverage at special events/activities as assigned.
 
Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge and awareness of applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures; maintains an awareness of new techniques, equipment, medications, trends, and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; participates in continuing education activities; attends shift meetings, inservices, workshops and seminars as appropriate.
 
Demonstrates flexibility in scheduling and readiness to assist in dangerous and extreme situations such as a natural disaster or epidemic. 

High school diploma or GED; supplemented by completion of Paramedic training program or Emergency Medical Technician training program and completion of coursework in emergency vehicle operations and extrication; supplemented by one (1) year previous experience and/or training involving field work as a Paramedic or Emergency Medical Technician; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Must possess and maintain valid Tennessee Paramedic License. Must possess and maintain valid International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) Provider, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PSTLS), or equivalent advanced trauma certification, as well as Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Pediatric Emergency Pre-Hospital (PEPP) Provider, or equivalent advanced pediatric certification. Must possess and maintain valid Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Provider certification, as well as valid Health Care Provider Basic Life Support, or equivalent. Must possess and maintain a valid Tennessee driver's license with appropriate endorsement.

STANDING AND WALKING
Tasks: Patient care
Surface: Tile, carpet, asphalt, gravel, dirt, mud, snow, etc
Estimated Total Hours: varies Maximum Continuous Time:    14    
 
SITTING
Tasks: Driving/riding to calls, sitting in ambulance during patient care
Estimated Total Hours: varies Maximum Continuous Time:       2      
 
LIFTING/CARRYING
Objects: Stretcher with patient loaded and unloaded. Cardiac monitor, equipment and gear
 
Weight and Duration:
<10 lbs Daily  
11-25 lbs Daily   
26-50 lbs Daily   
51-75 lbs Daily   
76-100 lbs Hourly, Daily   
>100 lbs Hourly, Daily   

 
PUSHING/PULLING
Objects: stretcher and other equipment
Height of hands above floor during push: Waist or mid-chest level
           
CLIMBING
Tasks: Patient care up/down stairs, up/down embankments
Device: Stretcher, long spine board, splinting device, equipment, and gear
Height: Varies
Frequency: Dependant on number of calls
 
BENDING/SQUATTING/KNEELING
Tasks: Various patient-care scenarios
Frequency: Dependent on number of calls
 
REACHING
Tasks: Placing patients on stretcher and assisting in mobility impaired patients.
Hands Used:  RIGHT     LEFT    BOTH X
 
Distance, Direction, Frequency, Duration, Avg. Weight
0-20": All, Daily, varies, 150-200 lbs
21-36": All, Daily, Varies, 150-200 lbs

 
WORK CONDITIONS
Exposure to: Yes/No
Hot Temperatures Yes 
Cold Temperatures Yes 
Sudden Changes in Temperature Yes 
Noise Yes 
Fumes Yes 
Cramped Quarters Yes 
Cold Surfaces Yes 
Hot Surfaces Yes 
Sharp Edges Yes 
Vibration Yes 
Fluorescent Lighting Yes 
Computer Monitor Screen Glare Yes 

 
 Inside Building 30      % of time
Outside  70      % of time

 
OTHER JOB DEMANDS
Does Job Require: Yes/No
Crawling Yes 
Jumping Yes 
Lying on Back Yes 
Lying on Stomach Yes 
Twisting Yes 
Sweeping/Mopping Yes 
General Cleaning Yes 
Handling Trash Yes 

 
LIST TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, AND MATERIALS USED
Splinting, oxygenation, IV's, laptop computer, IV pumps, stretcher, stair chair, medical supplies, radios, etc.
 
HAND USE
Type of Use, Yes/No, Frequency
Keystrokes:  Yes  
Grasp:  Yes  
Fine Motor i.e.: writing, twisting hands or wrist, etc:  Yes