Paramedic

Crisis Center of Tampa Bay•Tampa, FL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Paramedic supports the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay’s mission by responding to assigned calls efficiently, providing high-quality patient care, and maintaining a safe environment. The role is often the first point of contact with the Crisis Center and involves safely transporting passengers with medical, physical, emotional, or developmental disabilities in a courteous and professional manner. The Paramedic participates in performance quality improvement activities and uses data to improve services and outcomes. The position assesses, treats, and transports patients using appropriate protocols, equipment, and techniques. It includes triage, patient movement, medical procedures and medication administration within the Paramedic’s scope, communication with receiving facilities, unit leadership, radio communication, and accurate electronic patient-care documentation. The Paramedic also maintains the ambulance and equipment in response-ready condition, completes required training and certifications, and follows company policies and medical protocols. The work is performed primarily in a driving environment, in an ambulance, medical transport vehicle, or medical facility, with regular outdoor work and occasional exposure to extreme environmental conditions and blood or other body fluids. The position requires three 12-hour shifts per week for full-time personnel, with varied start times between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Employees must be willing to work assigned varying hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and may be recalled during a declared disaster or emergency. Local day travel is limited.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Current Florida Paramedic certification.
Current Florida Class E driver’s license with an acceptable driving history.
Current AHA BLS/CPR, ACLS, and PALS certifications.
Successfully complete a Department of Transportation physical examination, federal criminal background screening, and 10-panel drug screening after a conditional offer of employment.
Complete FEMA ICS 100, 200, and 700A and Baker Act Training within 14 days of employment.
Complete the specified Florida Certification Board trainings within 14 days of employment: Introduction to the Baker Act; Marchman Act Basics; Minors and the Baker Act; Law Enforcement and the Baker Act; Baker Act and Law Enforcement Procedures for Law Enforcement; Suicide Prevention; Assessing Suicide Risk; Guardian Advocate and the Baker Act; and Guardian Advocate and the Marchman Act.
Complete Emergency Vehicle Operators (EVOC) training and testing within 14 days of employment.
Knowledge of Florida Chapter 401, HIPAA patient-confidentiality requirements, the Baker Act as it relates to TransCare Transportation Services, and EMS radio systems and operations.
Strong verbal and written communication skills for communicating with patients, community partners, clients, peers, and management.
Knowledge of crisis intervention, stress response, personal well-being methods, body substance isolation, and basic medical-legal principles.
Ability to act effectively in stressful situations and work independently with minimal supervision.
Ability to physically restrain violent psychiatric patients and lift a stretcher with a patient.
Ability to understand and apply policies and procedures, set work priorities, complete assignments, solve problems, and maintain effective working relationships.
Ability to wear and maintain a uniform.
Physical ability to respond quickly to calls, access patients in varied locations, climb stairs and other structures, work in extreme environments, and carry heavy equipment and patients.
Ability to perform strenuous physical tasks, including moving patients and equipment, CPR, and other lifesaving maneuvers.
Fine motor ability to perform medical skills including bandaging, splinting, IV cannulation, endotracheal intubation and other advanced airway techniques, manual defibrillation, and pleural decompression.
Correctable vision sufficient to safely operate emergency vehicles and read medical gauges, fine print, and figures.
Hearing sufficient to obtain information from patients and others and provide care in active, distracting environments.
Ability to speak clearly and audibly and communicate verbally in stressful, distracting environments.

Responsibilities

Respond to assigned calls efficiently and provide high-quality patient care in a safe environment.
Safely transport passengers with medical, physical, emotional, or developmental disabilities in a courteous and professional manner.
Participate in the performance quality improvement process and use data to improve services and outcomes.
Use medical equipment and perform procedures within the Paramedic scope, including cardiac monitoring and 12-lead ECG interpretation, EtCO2 application and interpretation, oxygen and suction, IV cannulation, medication administration, IV pump and ventilator monitoring, CPR, and ACLS procedures.
Use triage skills to promote efficient call handling.
Lift and move patients using required safety protocols.
Communicate with receiving facilities to obtain medical direction and relay critical information.
Act as team leader and take responsibility for unit management.
Observe changes in patient appearance, including eye and skin coloration, in response to the patient’s condition and treatment.
Assess, treat, and transport patients using appropriate techniques, resources, equipment, and protocols.
Assist and secure passengers as required.
Maintain radio communication with the Systems Status Controller, respond professionally and promptly, and follow assigned routes or daily manifests.
Meet operational targets for total call time and receiving-facility turnaround time.
Accurately complete electronic Patient Care Reports, documenting observations, emergency medical care, and insurance information for records, diagnostics, billing, and reimbursement.
Communicate professionally and maintain positive working relationships with peers and others in the EMS system.
Complete required initial and ongoing training and continuing education, and keep current licensure, registration, and certification records with Human Resources.
Arrive on time and ready to deploy for scheduled shifts.
Conduct pre-trip vehicle inspections and keep the ambulance and equipment clean, stocked, organized, and ready for response.
Maintain working knowledge of the ambulance and its equipment, and report defective equipment or supplies to the Field Operations Supervisor.
Maintain a neat, professional appearance and comply with company policies, TransCare Standard Operating Procedures, and the Medical and Protocol Manual.
Perform other duties assigned by management.