Emergency Medical Technician

Description

SUMMARY: The Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians scope of practice includes basic and limited advanced skills focused on the acute management and transportation of critical and emergent patients as outlined by the National EMS Scope of Practice Model.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ability to perform limited advanced skills and provide pharmacological interventions to emergency patients within their scope of practice.
• Functions as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight.
• Performs interventions with the basic equipment typically found on an ambulance.
• Functions as a link from the scene to the emergency health care system.
• Knowledgeable of the minimum psychomotor skills; such as, 

       Airway and Breathing

• insertion of airways that are NOT intended to be placed into the trachea
• Tracheobronchial suctioning of an already intubated patients
• Assessment

Pharmacological Interventions

• Establish and maintain peripheral intravenous access
• Establish and maintain intraosseous access in a pediatric patient
• Administer (nonmedicated) intravenous fluid therapy
• Administer sublingual nitroglycerine to patient experiencing chest pain of suspected ischemic origin
• Administer subcutaneous or intramuscular epinephrine to a patient in anaphylaxis 
• Administer glucagon to a hypoglycemic patient
• Administer intravenous D50 to a hypoglycemic patient
• Administer inhaled beta agonists to a patient experiencing difficulty breathing and wheezing
• Administer a narcotic antagonist to a patient suspected of narcotic overdose
• Administer nitrous oxide for pain relief

       Trauma Care

• Application and inflation of the pneumatic anti-shock garment (PASG) for fracture stabilization.
• Demonstrates knowledge and respect of patient’s right to privacy and protection of patient’s confidentiality.
• Works as a team member through interaction, assistance and demonstration.
• Participates in emergency situations.
• Ability to communicate between patients, families, ancillary personnel and hospital departments involved in patient care.
• Function as a non-licensed staff member in the emergency department under the direction of the medical director, mid-level (Physician Assistant, Advanced Practice Nurse) or charge RN as requested and allowed by hospital policy. 
• Will be required to work weekend shifts as scheduled.
• Functions as patient advocate.
• Miscellaneous duties as assigned requested or required.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Possesses the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation.
• Competent in medical terminology.
• Knowledge of anatomy and physiology of disease processes.
• Competent in clinical skills and use of medical equipment.
• Knowledgeable of Infection Control and Prevention Programs.
• Maintain discretion and confidentiality in communications.
• Knowledgeable about policies and procedures regarding reporting and release of protected health information (PHI).
• Maintain certifications and continuing education requirements needed to perform job.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma/GED
• Current state-licensed EMT Certification 
• Successful completion of state-approved Advanced EMT course
• Current State certification as EMT-Advanced or National registry of EMT required NREMT-Advanced
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certified, required
• Successful completion of the following courses:
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), highly recommended 
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), highly recommended OR 
• Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC), highly recommended

LANGUAGE/READING SKILLS:

• Communicate verbally and in writing in English.
• Bilingual – English/Spanish preferred

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Basic statistical concepts.

REASONING ABILITY: Responds to unusual or varied situations that are not covered by existing standards, procedures and precedents. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, ascend and descend stairs, possess ability to handle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms. 

Frequently driving through heavy traffic under normal and emergency conditions. Frequent exposure to various weather conditions and/or dangerous situations on emergency calls, such as, hostility and undiagnosed diseases. Ability to lift and move patients, which often requires lifting over 100 pounds, and sometimes up to 125 pounds, with a partner. Specific vision abilities include close vision and the ability to clearly focus vision. Specific hearing abilities using the stethoscope for breath sounds and Korotkoff sounds.