Field Medic - Paramedic

Blanco County ESD 1 is hiring a full time Paramedic! Come join one of the most clinically progressive agencies in the State of Texas and work in the beautiful Texas Hill Country!

Position Purpose and Summary

Under direction of the EMS Command Staff, the Field Medic – Paramedic responds to emergency calls to provide efficient and immediate care to the critically ill and injured, transports the patient to a medical facility.

Required Qualifications

• Texas Department of State Health Services certification or license as an Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P / LP)
• CPR-Basic Life Support Certification
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification or Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals
• Texas Class 'C' Driver's License

Education Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED

Desired Qualifications

• International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) Advanced Certification or Prehospital Trauma Life Support Certification (PHTLS)
• 2 Years Paramedic Experience on a 911-Response Ambulance
• National Incident Management System (NIMS) Training: ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-700, ICS-800

Physical Requirements

• Unimpaired mobility: Must be able to quickly respond to ambulance, must be able to access patients in difficult terrain, must be able to climb stairs, must be able to work in close and dangerous environments such as damaged vehicles, must be able with partner to carry equipment and patients weighing up to 220 pounds.
• Physical Abilities: Must be able to perform strenuous physical requirements such as CPR, lifting and moving of equipment and patients in a variety of environmental conditions. Must be able to swim at the basic survival level.
• Fine Motor Skills: Must be able to perform required medical skills and techniques, such as bandaging, splinting, establishing an IV, performing endotracheal intubation and other advanced airway techniques, manual defibrillation, pleural decompression.
• Vision: Must have correctable vision acceptable for day and night operation of emergency vehicles, must have color acuity adequate for determination of skin and blood color, must be able to read medication dosages on drug labels and syringes.
• Hearing: Must be able to hear and understand information provided by patients, family or bystanders; must be able to hear breath sounds and accurately determine auscultated blood pressures; must be able to differentiate separate conversations in active, distracting environments; must be able to hear and understand radio traffic when responding with lights and sirens.
• Speech: Must be able to speak and enunciate clearly and at a level audible to others in loud conditions, must be able to speak clearly in stressful situations, must be able to verbally communicate with patients, families and other emergency personnel.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Patient advocacy, interagency teamwork, maturity and professionalism.
• Clear and concise oral and written communications with receiving physicians, nursing staff and EMS staff are essential attributes.
• Use VHF/UHF radio to effectively communicate with other EMS and public safety units.
• Perform basic life support skills and procedures at the location of an emergency, bandaging wounds, splinting suspected fractures, administering oxygen, etc.
• Performs the following: glucometry, pulse oximetry, orotracheal and nasotracheal intubation, nasogastric tube insertion, end tidal CO2 monitoring, peripheral IV establishment, intraosseous infusion, administration of medications as indicated by the medical director and the Standards of Care, cardiac monitoring, 12 lead ECG interpretation, transcutaneous pacing, pleural decompression, needle cricothyrotomy, manual defibrillation, and cardioversion.
• As a public safety team member, assists in all active patient rescue activities by cooperating with other public safety support agencies.
• Completes appropriate patient treatment documentation and other reports as required by department policy.
• Ensures that the emergency vehicle and all items of equipment are stocked, clean, and ready for use.
• Safely operates an emergency vehicle, responding to emergency scenes and transporting patients to medical facilities.
• Attend meetings, seminars, and in-services to stay current in position and required skill competencies for the position of Paramedic.
• Act as team leader for emergency medical services personnel at scene of emergency medical incidents.
• Able to pass Clinical Operating Guidelines test at 80% or better within 30 days of employment.

Laboratory Testing Responsibilities:

Testing Personnel are responsible for specimen processing, test performance, and reporting test results. They should only perform those tests that are authorized by the Laboratory Director and that are within the individual’s skill level as determined by education, training or experience, and technical abilities. Testing Personnel are also responsible for:

• Following the laboratory’s procedures for specimen handling and processing, test analyses, reporting, and maintaining records of patient results.
• Maintaining records which demonstrate that proficiency testing samples are tested in the same manner as patient specimens.
• Adhering to the laboratory’s Quality Control policies and documenting all Quality Control activities, instrument and procedural calibrations, and instrument maintenance.
• Following the laboratory’s policies, including taking and documenting corrective actions, whenever test systems are not within the laboratory’s established acceptable levels of performance.
• Being able to identify problems that may adversely affect test performance or test result reporting and correcting the problem or notifying the appropriate supervisor.
• Documenting all corrective actions taken when test systems deviate from the laboratory’s established performance specifications.
• If required by route of qualification, performing high complexity testing only under the on-site direct supervision of a General Supervisor.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of basic prehospital emergency medical care.
• Knowledge of UHF/VHF radio communications equipment.
• Knowledge of the operation of medical and basic rescue equipment utilized at the EMT-Paramedic level of pre-hospital emergency care.
• Knowledge of current principles and practices of emergency medical services, customer service principles, patient advocacy and incident management.
• Skill in emergency vehicle operation.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other NBCEMS employees and members.
• Skill in performing strenuous work under all weather conditions including emergency situations.
• Skill in map reading and in navigating to call locations under stress and time constraints.
• Skilled in patient advocacy, interagency teamwork, maturity, professionalism are essential attributes.
• Clear and concise oral and written communications with receiving physicians, nursing staff and EMS staff are essential attributes.
• Ability to write legibly as required for documentation of patient treatment and billing information.
• Ability to remember numerous details and quickly recall essential information.
• Ability to exercise independent judgement.
• Ability to identify and meet the needs of the patient, family, and support agencies at the scene of an emergency.
• Ability to communicate professionally in a manner that conveys care and concern for the patient and family.
• Ability to perform basic life support skills and procedures at the location of an emergency such as bandaging wounds, splinting suspected fractures, administering oxygen, etc.

Work Schedule

56-Hour Work Week – Based on a 48 Hours On Duty / 96 Hours Off Duty Cycle. Overtime opportunities are available. Must be able to work weekends/holidays on a regular basis.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance – Gold-Level BlueCross BlueShield PPO Medical Insurance Paid 100% by Employer
  • Dependent Coverage Paid 50% by Employer
• Excellent Employer-Paid Dental, Vision and Life Benefits
• Retirement - Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS) - Retire at ANY age with 20 years of service (prior service credit given for TCDRS/TMRS time)
  • Employee Contribution at 7%
  • Employer Matching at 200%
  • Guaranteed 7% returns
• Paid Time Off - Tiered paid time off provided by department based on years of service, employee can use it, roll it over, or cash out each year.
• Uniforms - All uniforms (including boots) provided by department.
• Training - In-House Training for ALL CE Requirements
• Certifications - All Certifications (DSHS, NREMT, Card Courses, etc) paid by the department

Blanco County ESD 1 (North Blanco County EMS) provides EMS services to the northern portion of Blanco County.