Paramedic

Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority•Charleston, WV

4d•$27 - $29•Onsite

About The Position

The EMT-Paramedic provides emergency medical care and transport for sick and injured patients. The role involves assessing and prioritizing patients’ medical needs, performing advanced life support procedures, administering medication under physician direction or protocol, and documenting patient care. Paramedics coordinate with dispatch, medical command personnel, other emergency medical team members, and police or fire personnel. They also inspect and inventory vehicles, stations, supplies, and equipment; decontaminate ambulances as required; reassure patients; and attend training to maintain certifications and knowledge. This is a mission-critical, full-time position in Charleston, West Virginia. Employees must report during adverse weather and holidays, be available for any shift as requested, and may need to work beyond a scheduled shift until properly relieved or released. Work may take place outdoors in all seasons and involve moving mechanical parts, loud noise, extreme temperatures, fumes, toxic or caustic chemicals, bodily substances, and potentially combative patients or bystanders. The position requires lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling at least 150 pounds independently and 300 pounds or more with assistance. It also involves frequent standing, walking, sitting, equipment operation, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, and crouching, as well as occasional movement through challenging obstacles. Finger and manual dexterity, multilimbed coordination, and arm-hand steadiness are required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Successful completion of a college or technical school paramedic program.
West Virginia Certified EMT-Paramedic.
West Virginia driver’s license with a safe driving record.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Advanced Cardiac Care (ACC) certification.
CPR certification.
NIMS 100, NIMS 200, NIMS 700, and NIMS 800.

Responsibilities

Assess the nature and extent of illness or injury and establish and prioritize medical procedures.
Drive ambulances or other vehicles to specified locations, following emergency medical dispatcher instructions.
Assist with rescuing victims and transport sick or injured patients to appropriate treatment centers.
Operate equipment such as electrocardiograms, external defibrillators, and bag valve mask resuscitators in advanced life support environments.
Perform emergency diagnostic and treatment procedures, including pacing, decompression, airway management, and cardiac monitoring during ambulance transport.
Observe, record, and report patients’ conditions or injuries, treatment provided, and reactions to drugs or treatment to physicians.
Administer drugs by the appropriate route under a physician’s direction or protocol.
Coordinate work with emergency medical team members and police or fire department personnel.
Immobilize patients for stretcher placement and ambulance transport using backboards or other spinal immobilization devices.
Communicate with dispatchers or medical command center personnel to provide situation information, arrange reception of victims, or receive further treatment instructions.
Decontaminate ambulance interiors after treating patients with known or suspected infectious diseases and report incidents as required.
Document patient treatment in KCEAA’s electronic patient care reporting software.
Conduct daily, weekly, and periodic inspections and inventories of supplies, vehicles, stations, and related equipment as needed or directed by KCEAA policy, and document them properly.
Comfort and reassure patients.
Attend training classes to maintain certification, keep abreast of developments in emergency services, and maintain existing knowledge.