Emergency Department Partner

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago•Chicago, IL

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Emergency Department Partner (EDP) is a health care professional and integral member of the Emergency Department care team. The EDP responds to, assesses, and triages emergent, urgent, and non-urgent requests for medical care; determines patients’ physiologic, psychological, and psychosocial needs; administers medications; interprets and uses diagnostic findings to implement treatment; provides complex care; and facilitates access to higher levels of care when needs exceed a licensed paramedic’s capability. The role serves neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients, taking their growth and development into account, and adheres to service principles focused on innovation, service excellence, teamwork, and high-quality care. The EDP participates in emergency response activities, including the Non-Inpatient Emergency Assessment and Response (NEAR) team, Code Blue Team, Decontamination Team, and Trauma Response Team. The role also helps educate and train EMT students, registered nurses, medical students, residents, and other trainees. Area-specific duties include airway and breathing support; circulation interventions; management of deformities and disabilities; maintenance and preparation of equipment and the care environment; patient monitoring; procedural assistance and interventions; patient and family transport; and communication and documentation. The EDP assesses and documents vital signs, applies ECG, SpO2, and ETCO2 monitoring, performs specified point-of-care tests, and documents assessments and interventions in the electronic medical record. The position requires knowledge of relevant equipment and protocols, including disinfection and sterilization when applicable.

Requirements

High school graduate; high school diploma or GED is required.
Graduate of an IDPH- or NREMT-P-approved Paramedic program.
Minimum of two years of experience in Emergency Medical Services or a hospital Emergency Department setting.
Illinois Department of Public Health EMT-P certification/licensure.
Submit a letter of good standing from an Illinois Department of Public Health-approved EMS system.
Obtain Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications within the first year of employment.
Ability to cope and function in stressful situations and handle multiple tasks without disrupting patient care.
Ability to provide a safe, non-threatening environment for patients and families and collaborate with team members and allied professionals.
Recognize personal strengths and limitations, participate in self-evaluation, and demonstrate professionalism and accountability.
Demonstrate critical thinking, adaptability, and sound judgment in implementing medical plans of care, clinical interventions, and procedures.
Communicate effectively with patients, families, physicians, and hospital staff, while observing principles of privileged communication.
Thorough working knowledge of equipment needed to perform job functions; willingness to independently accept additional responsibilities and anticipate environmental changes that may impair safety.
Complete initial training and competency with the Vascular Access Team designee for ultrasound-guided peripheral IV access, with annual competency thereafter.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.
Pediatric Education for Pre-hospital Professionals (PEPP) certification recommended.
Advanced Pediatric Life Support (APLS) certification recommended.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP/NALS) certification recommended.
Pediatric Pre-hospital Basic or Advanced Trauma Life Support (BTLS/PHTLS) certification recommended.

Responsibilities

Assess patients using a variety of assessment methods and area-specific tools, and provide care according to procedures and protocols.
Anticipate emergent situations and intervene effectively; continuously observe and evaluate patient responses to interventions, treatments, and therapies, and recommend care-plan revisions as needs change.
Communicate with patients’ families and the multidisciplinary team to identify care needs, report changes in patient status, and obtain referrals or consultations as appropriate.
Keep current with the EMS National Scope of Practice and use current EMS and health care literature for information and problem solving.
Incorporate hospital and departmental quality initiatives into daily work and adhere to communication, service excellence, professional image, and service principles.
Work cooperatively as a team member to support unit and hospital goals; identify learning needs and pursue resources to advance EDP practice and professional goals.
Demonstrate competency with applicable chemical disinfection, high-level disinfection, and sterilization protocols.
As a NEAR team member, respond to, assess, and treat non-inpatients using Basic Life Support services, escalating to Advanced Life Support services or Code Blue when necessary.
Respond as a member of the Code Blue Team; serve as a Decontamination Team first responder and initiate the Decontamination Response Plan; and participate as an integral member of the Trauma Response Team.
Assist with education and training for EMT students, registered nurses, medical students, residents, and other trainees.
Maintain airways; apply oxygen, suction, nasal and oral airway adjuncts; provide bag-valve-mask ventilation and CPR; assist with endotracheal intubation and ventilation; and administer albuterol and ipratropium bromide inhalation medications under the ED Asthma Algorithm.
Control bleeding; apply a CAT Tourniquet or Quick Clot when appropriate; use an automated external defibrillator; and, under direct supervision of an Emergency Department attending physician, perform external defibrillation and intraosseous needle insertion.
Initiate peripheral intravenous access and phlebotomy, including administration of 1% buffered lidocaine using a J-Tip in accordance with standing medical orders; initiate ultrasound-guided peripheral IV access after required training and competency; and administer specified normal saline flushes and boluses.
Maintain and apply cervical motion restriction, cervical collars, back boards, Miami J products, and Kendrick Extrication Devices; apply soft and rigid splints, including HARE traction; and assist with cast application.
Maintain a clean, well-supplied patient care environment; ensure equipment and medical gas availability; calibrate, assemble, troubleshoot, and maintain diagnostic and life-support equipment; process equipment for cleaning or sterilization; and set up and maintain emergency standby equipment.
Assess and document vital signs and perform ECG monitoring and 12-lead ECG application, SpO2 monitoring, and ETCO2 monitoring.
Provide general wound care, irrigation, cleansing, dressings, and ear irrigations; assist with procedures such as intubation, lumbar puncture, laceration repair, wound incision and drainage, phlebotomy, and IV or intraosseous access.
Educate patients and families on correct use of crutches, splints, and other assistive devices; perform point-of-care testing for blood glucose, urine dip, urine HCG, rapid strep, Hemoccult, and Gastroccult.
Transport patients and provide assessment, monitoring, and documentation during transport to and from hospital areas and services.
Communicate assessments, interventions, and patient status changes to the care team, and document assessments and interventions in the EMR.
Perform other job functions as assigned.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employer-paid group term life and disability insurance
Employer contribution toward a Health Savings Account
Flexible Spending Accounts
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Paid holidays
Paid parental leave
403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match
Voluntary supplemental life, AD&D, and disability coverage
Critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity coverage
Tuition assistance
Student loan servicing and support
Adoption benefits
Backup childcare and eldercare
Employee Assistance Program and specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members
Discounts on services at Lurie Children’s facilities
Discount purchasing program
Possible hourly employee differentials