Paramedic or EMT - Emergency Communications Specialist - Full-time

Erlanger Health System•Chattanooga, TN

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The LIFE FORCE Emergency Communications Specialist at Erlanger serves as a central communication hub supporting air medical flight operations, event medicine and special operations teams, regional medical coordination (MedComm), and Erlanger's emergency and disaster response efforts. This role operates within a highly technical, regional communications center and facilitates communication both internally across Erlanger and externally with EMS and healthcare partners. The position requires flexibility, including variable shifts (nights, weekends, and holidays), routine on-call responsibilities, and potential field response through deployment of a mobile communications unit. In support of Flight Operations, the specialist coordinates air medical transport requests from 911 centers and hospitals across the southeastern region. Responsibilities include collaborating with pilots and transport teams to monitor weather and navigation systems, ensuring safe patient transfers, providing flight-following in accordance with FAA Part 135 regulations, coordinating aircraft movements at the Erlanger Heliport, and maintaining real-time communication with aircraft and emergency responders. The specialist also facilitates interoperable communication plans for each mission. For Event Medicine and Special Operations, the specialist establishes and manages communications for LIFE FORCE event teams, special operations units, and regional tactical (SWAT) medical teams. This includes coordinating communication among field teams, law enforcement liaisons, and Erlanger medical staff during deployments and on-scene operations. Within Regional Medical Control and Coordination (MedComm), the specialist manages communication between EMS providers and hospitals throughout Tennessee EMS Region 3 and surrounding areas. Duties include facilitating radio and telephone medical control between prehospital providers and physicians and coordinating EMS resources during routine and large-scale events. The role also supports mass casualty and disaster response by coordinating resources, engaging mutual aid partners, and managing communication and deployment efforts in collaboration with the State Emergency Operations Center and Tennessee Division of EMS. For Erlanger Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, the specialist acts as a key coordination point between emergency management, the Safety Officer, the EHS Command Center, and external responders. Responsibilities include coordinating response and recovery resources, activating system-wide emergency alerts, managing inbound emergency traffic, and ensuring effective, interoperable communication across all responding agencies.

Requirements

Graduate of an EMT-Basic, Advanced EMT, or EMT-Paramedic Program
A minimum of two (2) years public safety field experience or two (2) years emergency communications center or emergency operations center experience.
Experience must reflect general knowledge in pre-hospital EMS practice and skills or pre-hospital incident command system operations and management.
Knowledge of current trends and new developments, principles and practices of emergency communications and pre-hospital medicine, applicable to those areas requiring special education.
Current licensure to practice as an EMT-Basic, Advanced EMT or EMT-Paramedic in the State of Tennessee.
Current BLS certification prior to going to unit/department and maintained going forward.
Certified Flight Communicator certification (within 1 yr of employment)
FEMA ICS Courses: ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-700, ICS-800 level courses (within 60 days of employment)
Valid Driver's License
Must have a working knowledge and operational understanding of guidelines and procedures for coordinating both local and regional emergency medical service (air and ground) responses and radio traffic.
Must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide radio and telecommunications assistance, appropriate to the ages of the patients transported by the by ground and air medical services in the region.

Nice To Haves

Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) certificate preferred
APCO Certified Public Safety Telecommunicator preferred
Associate or bachelor's degree
Call Center, 911 Center and/or air medical communications experience
Supervisory experience in EMS or other public safety discipline
Experience with computer aided dispatch programs, automatic vehicle location tracking systems, electronic patient care record systems or electronic health record systems.
Experience working in a hospital emergency department or other healthcare outpatient setting
Nationally Registered AEMT or EMT-P
ITLS or PHTLS
PALS or PEPP and ACLS
FEMA ICS Courses: ICS-300, ICS-400
FEMA Communications Unit Leader (COML) Certification

Responsibilities

Coordinates air medical transport requests from 911 centers and hospitals.
Collaborates with pilots and transport teams to monitor weather and navigation systems.
Ensures safe patient transfers.
Provides flight-following in accordance with FAA Part 135 regulations.
Coordinates aircraft movements at the Erlanger Heliport.
Maintains real-time communication with aircraft and emergency responders.
Facilitates interoperable communication plans for each mission.
Establishes and manages communications for LIFE FORCE event teams, special operations units, and regional tactical (SWAT) medical teams.
Coordinates communication among field teams, law enforcement liaisons, and Erlanger medical staff during deployments and on-scene operations.
Manages communication between EMS providers and hospitals throughout Tennessee EMS Region 3 and surrounding areas.
Facilitates radio and telephone medical control between prehospital providers and physicians.
Coordinates EMS resources during routine and large-scale events.
Supports mass casualty and disaster response by coordinating resources, engaging mutual aid partners, and managing communication and deployment efforts.
Acts as a key coordination point between emergency management, the Safety Officer, the EHS Command Center, and external responders.
Coordinates response and recovery resources.
Activates system-wide emergency alerts.
Manages inbound emergency traffic.
Ensures effective, interoperable communication across all responding agencies.
Develops flight and communications plans for air medical transport.
Utilizes mapping resources to locate remote locations for safe rotor wing aircraft landing zones.
Creates computer-aided dispatch records that accurately reflect patient pickup and destination.
Maintains federal, state, local, Med-Trans and EHS records and documentation.
Functions as the FAR Part 135 Operator's designated Flight Follower on all air medical missions.
Tracks airborne aircraft using automated tracking services and manual position reporting.
Maintains appropriate documentation for identification of persons on board the aircraft.
Locates overdue aircraft using mapping and tracking resources.
Implements the Post-Accident Incident Plan (PAIP) for conditions appropriate for activation.
Maintains safe and effective operations of the Erlanger Heliport (0TN8).
Coordinates take-off and landing information for aircraft arriving and departing from the 0TN8 heliport.
Coordinates communications and maintains situational awareness of air medical aircraft inbound and outbound from other helipads.
Establishes and maintains communications with local law enforcement, government and private operators of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
Tracks authorized UAS operators and any reported unauthorized use of UAS within Class C airspace.
Provides radio and telecommunications assistance, appropriate to the ages of the patients transported.
Assesses and interprets data about the patient using principles of human growth and development.
Utilizes assessment data to provide age-specific services.
Activates the appropriate specialty care team(s) of the receiving hospital.
Functions as a liaison between EMS and hospital emergency departments for gathering and/or routing information necessary for continuity of patient care.
Routes EMS field reports to the appropriate receiving facility.
Receives, coordinates, and completes Regional Medical Communications (MedComm) related records.
Facilitates communications between medical control physicians and pre-hospital providers.
Liaises for the Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Emergency Medical Services for EMS response to Mass Casualty Incidents, disaster assistance and mutual aid requests.
Provides incident updates to the regional EMS Consultant, State Emergency Operations Center and State EMS Director.
Provides coordination point for State EMS and Regional Hospital Coordinators in response to disasters or mass casualty incidents and large-scale planned events.
Establishes, coordinates and maintains communications for LIFE FORCE Event Medicine and Special Operations Team deployments.
Manages high-volume communications during MCI events and/or internal EHS disasters.
Works effectively and as a team member with other communications specialists, nurses and providers in the Erlanger Regional Operations Center (EROC).
Assists with maintaining cleanliness, efficiency and mission-critical readiness of the EROC.
May serve as a preceptor for new employees in the EROC, new Flight Crews or others being oriented to the organization.
Represents LIFE FORCE, EROC and Erlanger while in uniform, as a duty assignment for tours and visitors to the EROC.
Performs other duties as assigned by the EROC Supervisor or Emergency Communications Manager.