Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Specialist

County of Santa Clara•Santa Clara, CA

About The Position

Under direction, plans, organizes, coordinates, directs, manages, supervises, and monitors the County’s emergency medical services system. The system may include EMS personnel, volunteers, provider agencies, and facilities. The role ensures compliance with applicable California laws and regulations and County codes, policies, protocols, guidelines, and contracts governing the EMS system and its components. The Specialist manages EMS program activities, provider performance, quality assurance and improvement, contracts, funding, budgets, and program policies. The role provides administrative and technical direction, collaborates with hospitals and public and private safety agencies, advises emergency care stakeholders, and investigates complaints and inspects providers. It also contributes to disaster medical response planning and may respond to and manage disaster or mass-casualty incidents. Depending on assignment, the Specialist may supervise staff, contractors, or volunteers; deliver training and community education; manage websites and outreach; and serve in County or health-system emergency operations centers or on mutual aid deployments. The position requires education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and three years of EMS experience, subject to the stated substitution for a master’s degree. A valid California license to practice as a Registered Nurse, Paramedic, or EMT is required, as are a California driver’s license and completion of EVOC within six months of appointment. When assigned as Duty Chief, the employee must be able to respond to an emergency call within ten minutes by phone or radio and remain within 45 minutes of Santa Clara County. Personal protective equipment must be worn and maintained as needed.

Requirements

Education, training, and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration, Nursing, Public Administration, or a related field, and three years of EMS experience.
A master’s degree in one of the listed disciplines may substitute for one year of EMS experience.
Valid California license to practice as a Registered Nurse, Paramedic, or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
Complete the Emergency Vehicle Operators/Operations Course (EVOC) within six months of appointment.
Valid California driver’s license before appointment and ability to qualify for and maintain County driver authorization.
Knowledge of the Incident Command System, Standardized Emergency Management System, National Incident Management System, and California Public Health/Medical Emergency Operations Manual.
Knowledge of pre-hospital care system management and healthcare organizational structures and program components.
Knowledge of program administration, including budgeting, marketing, purchasing, management, and forecasting program needs.
Knowledge of current legislation and trends affecting healthcare providers in assigned program areas.
Knowledge of program development and evaluation methods and report-writing procedures.
Knowledge of medical terminology, training and evaluation methods, continuous quality improvement, and basic statistical and research methods.
Basic knowledge of investigative methods and disciplinary processes used within the EMS system.
Ability to coordinate large programs and multiple program components, direct others’ service-delivery work, and coordinate healthcare programs with other agencies.
Ability to formulate, gather, analyze, and present financial, informational, and statistical data.
Ability to analyze, interpret, and explain program policies and procedures and elicit community and organizational support.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, agencies, and County employees.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, sometimes under highly stressful conditions.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and manage assigned EMS program activities, including planning, prioritization, quality assurance, quality improvement, and participation in agency-wide program meetings.
Provide daily direction to external municipal and private personnel involved in EMS delivery.
Prepare and manage service contracts, monitor compliance, and oversee contract finances and related activities.
Prepare reports by collecting and analyzing data.
Oversee or participate in developing, implementing, and maintaining program goals, objectives, policies, and procedures.
Monitor EMS provider activities and evaluate performance, including that of EMTs, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, mobile intensive care nurses, EMS flight crews, and other pre-hospital care providers and equipment.
Provide administrative and technical direction to program services staff to ensure compliance with reporting requirements.
Analyze program services and evaluate changes and developing needs in assigned healthcare programs.
Research and apply for grants and donations, and administer grants in compliance with applicable regulations.
Coordinate program activities with agencies, service providers, and nonprofit services.
Provide staff assistance and technical support to County departments, commissions, and committees.
Conduct organizational and operational service-delivery studies and recommend solutions to identified issues.
Assist hospitals and public and private safety agencies with planning, implementing, and maintaining pre-hospital emergency care programs.
Build stakeholder relationships and advise emergency care personnel, communications personnel, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and the public on EMS matters.
Develop and coordinate the EMS component of disaster medical response and mass-casualty plans, and assist with public health disaster response plans and procedures.
Respond to, coordinate, and manage disaster medical and mass-casualty incidents.
Investigate suspected violations of emergency medical care standards, policies, protocols, County codes, and State codes.
Conduct routine and unannounced inspections of EMS providers, including ambulance providers, paramedic units, base hospitals, and trauma hospitals.
Monitor EMS delivery for medical appropriateness and continuity of patient care.
Provide regulatory oversight, assistance, and monitoring to educational institutions that train pre-hospital emergency care personnel.
Participate in and present at organizational and community meetings; remain current on assigned program issues; and respond to and resolve inquiries and complaints.
Establish effective working relationships with community organizations, government agencies, management, staff, clients, and the public.
Use specialized software and equipment, including electronic emergency management, hospital and disaster management, and patient tracking systems; radios; satellite telephones; wireless applications; and an emergency towing vehicle.
May prepare and administer annual budgets for assigned programs and monitor expenditures.
May serve in the County Emergency Operations Center or the health system Department Operations Center, or deploy on out-of-county mutual aid requests.
May create, coordinate, and deliver medical or health training and community education.
May manage assigned websites and monitor and improve internet and social media outreach across platforms.
May supervise subordinate emergency personnel and oversee contractors and volunteers.
May serve as a Disaster Service Worker and perform related duties.
Organize, coordinate, and supervise subordinate staff and oversee contractors or volunteers.
Operate communication and information technologies used in emergency and disaster response.
Coordinate large programs or multiple program components, direct service-delivery work in assigned healthcare specialty areas, and coordinate programs with other healthcare agencies.
Gather, analyze, and present financial, informational, and statistical data; integrate program activities to achieve program goals.
Interpret and explain program policies and procedures, elicit community and organizational support, and represent the health system and County on committees and with service providers.
Apply federal, state, and County requirements and approved standards for pre-hospital emergency care, and use tools relevant to the specialty area.
Instruct individuals and groups in pre-hospital emergency care.
Communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing, including under stressful conditions.
When assigned as Duty Chief, respond to emergency calls within ten minutes by phone or radio and remain within 45 minutes of Santa Clara County.
Wear and maintain personal protective equipment as needed.