State EMS Paramedic Communications Specialist (Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic) - Multiple

State of New York•Albany, NY

48d•$53,764 - $68,630•Onsite

About The Position

The Paramedic Communications Specialist (Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic) serves as a frontline clinical operations specialist within the State Medical Operations Coordination Center (SMOCC). This position integrates paramedic-level clinical judgment with operational coordination to support patient movement, system situational awareness, and resource allocation during health emergencies, disasters, and large-scale incidents across New York State. Operating in a 24/7, high-tempo environment, the Paramedic Communications Specialist monitors healthcare system status, facilitates interfacility patient transfers, and communicates directly with EMS agencies, hospitals, and response partners to support timely and effective medical care. The position bridges clinical insight and operational coordination, ensuring that patient care needs and system capabilities are effectively aligned during emergencies and periods of healthcare strain. Work involves continuous monitoring of dynamic data sources, complex coordination among healthcare facilities and EMS agencies, and real-time decision-making in alignment with established medical protocols and operational guidelines. The position requires advanced clinical knowledge, strong situational awareness, and rapid judgment to balance competing priorities where errors could directly impact patient outcomes or system performance. MAJOR FUNCTIONS AND ASSOCIATED DUTIES Call Intake and Initial Triage: Receives and triages incoming notifications from health care facilities, EMS agencies, and the Department's emergency duty officer line; collects and documents essential clinical and incident information; determines response pathways and communicates with Duty Officers and partner agencies to initiate appropriate actions. Situational Awareness and Analysis: Monitors statewide data systems, facility reports, and resource tracking platforms to identify system disruptions, capacity issues, and emerging incidents; validates and synthesizes operational information into concise updates supporting leadership and response coordination. Interfacility Patient Transfer Coordination: Facilitates patient transfers when regional capacity is exceeded; applies paramedic-level clinical judgment to match patient needs with appropriate destination facilities; collaborates with hospitals, transport agencies, and regional coordination centers to ensure timely and appropriate transfers. Emergency Medical Support and Advisory: Provides operational and clinical guidance to EMS responders and health care facilities during incidents; supports resource prioritization, EMS Task Force coordination, and participation in training and exercises to strengthen statewide readiness. Operational Communications and Readiness: Maintains reliable communication and information systems within the SMOCC; verifies operational data, ensures equipment readiness, documents all actions in case management systems, and contributes to continuous improvement and after-action review processes.

Requirements

New York State Health Department certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic) and the appropriate NYS driver's license for the type of vehicle operated.

Nice To Haves

Current New York State Department of Health Paramedic certification
Completion of FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) courses: ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-300, IS-700, and IS-800
NFPA 1061 or APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator I/II certification (or equivalent) preferred
Additional certifications such as ICS-400 or FEMA Professional Development Series (PDS) preferred
Minimum two years of experience providing prehospital care as a practicing paramedic
Experience in EMS operations, emergency response coordination, or interfacility patient transfer coordination preferred
Expert knowledge of prehospital care systems, EMS operations, and interfacility transfer logistics
Understanding of hospital capacity management and medical surge principles
Ability to interpret clinical and operational data to support patient distribution decisions
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills for high-stress environments
Proficiency with emergency communication systems, databases, and operational software
Ability to effectively collaborate with healthcare facilities, EMS agencies, and governmental partners.

Responsibilities

Receives and triages incoming notifications from health care facilities, EMS agencies, and the Department's emergency duty officer line; collects and documents essential clinical and incident information; determines response pathways and communicates with Duty Officers and partner agencies to initiate appropriate actions.
Monitors statewide data systems, facility reports, and resource tracking platforms to identify system disruptions, capacity issues, and emerging incidents; validates and synthesizes operational information into concise updates supporting leadership and response coordination.
Facilitates patient transfers when regional capacity is exceeded; applies paramedic-level clinical judgment to match patient needs with appropriate destination facilities; collaborates with hospitals, transport agencies, and regional coordination centers to ensure timely and appropriate transfers.
Provides operational and clinical guidance to EMS responders and health care facilities during incidents; supports resource prioritization, EMS Task Force coordination, and participation in training and exercises to strengthen statewide readiness.
Maintains reliable communication and information systems within the SMOCC; verifies operational data, ensures equipment readiness, documents all actions in case management systems, and contributes to continuous improvement and after-action review processes.