Job Summary:
Provides basic to advanced emergency rescue and paramedical care to the ill and injured. Guides and directs EMT Intermediate and/or EMT Basic techs and/or students in the application of appropriate EMS techniques, as required. Performs direct illness/injury assessment and management, preparation for transport, transfer of information, and patient care. Typically works on an on-call basis or as per schedule or as otherwise required

Duties Performed:
Attends emergency medical requests as they arise, and renders advanced paramedical assistance to seriously ill or injured patients as required; Performs initial assessment and management of illness or injury to emergency patients in accordance with specified protocol and procedure; Prepares or assists in the preparation of patients for transport, ensuring compliance with emergency medical transport regulations, protocol and procedure; Provides direct paramedical and comprehensive patient care as required in each individual case. Leads, guides, and/or assists in the training of lower level techs and/or students, as specifically assigned; Follows established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives, continuous quality improvement objectives, and safety, environmental, and/or infection control standards; Inspects emergency medical equipment to ensure serviceability and compliance with safety and infection control regulations and standards; Completes and transfers patient care information and records per established procedures; Performs other related duties as assigned

Supervision Given:
EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate

Supervision Received:
Ambulance/Paramedic Supervisor, Medical Control Physician

Relationship to other jobs:
Promoted from: EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate
Promoted to: Ambulance/Paramedic Supervisor

Machines, tools and equipment used:
Medical equipment as required to support job function, to include but not limited to, defibrillator, IV pumps, and diagnostic equipment. Rescue equipment such as the Hurst Tool and other extraction equipment needed to perform rescues and extractions from accidents. General office equipment such as personal computer and software needed to perform job functions.

Working Conditions:
Work involves considerable exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, smoke, dirt, dust, fumes, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises. Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment. Paramedics may be exposed to diseases such as Hepatitis B, C and AIDS, as well as violence from drug overdose victims or psychologically disturbed and patients. Paramedics work both indoors and outdoors, in all types of weather. They are required to do considerable kneeling, bending, and heavy lifting. Workers risk noise-induced hearing loss from sirens and back injuries from lifting patients. Because most emergency services function 24 hours a day, Paramedics have irregular working hours that add to job stress. The work is not only physically strenuous, but also stressful, involving life-or-death situations and suffering patients.

Job Specifications:

Physical requirements:
Paramedics should be emotionally stable, have good dexterity, agility, and physical coordination, and be able to lift and carry heavy loads. They also need good eyesight (corrective lenses may be used) with accurate color vision. Requires strenuous physical work; heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling required of objects over 100 pounds.

Educational requirements:
Formal training and certification is needed to become an EMT-Paramedic.

Special skills:
Skills and experience incumbent to function with proficiency at ALS level of service, as documented by Medical Control Physician. EMT-Paramedic, provide the most extensive pre-hospital care. In addition to the procedures described for EMT’s, paramedics may administer drugs orally and intravenously, interpret electrocardiograms (EKG’s); perform endo-tracheal intubations, and use monitors and other complex equipment. In rural areas, some EMT-Paramedics are trained to treat patients with minor injuries on the scene of an accident or at their home without transporting them to a medical facility

Experience required:
A minimum of one year working as an EMT-Basic, two years working as an EMT-Intermediate

Training required after hiring:
To maintain certification, EMT’s and paramedics must re-register, usually every 2 years. Re-registration required various hours of continuing education and/or certifications including CPR, ACLS, PALS and others.