Community Paramedic

An employee in this class provides proactive care that is intended to help improve the overall health and wellness of program participants. Expands access to non-urgent health care through in-home patient visits and/or community-based services. Works in cooperation with other stakeholders/key medical providers. Serves as a trained “navigator” of community resources. Provides outreach education to citizens. Employees perform emergency medical procedures at the certified Paramedic level. Work includes participating in community outreach education, prevention programs, and participating in continuous in-service training. Work is performed in accordance with established Emergency Medical Standard Operating Procedures Manual and under local medical director approved protocols. Work is performed under the supervision of the Community Paramedic Program Coordinator.Essential Duties and Tasks
Provides proactive care that is intended to help improve the overall health and wellness of program participants. Requires excellent rapport, understanding, and communication with the patients and their family members.
Expands access to non-urgent health care through in-home patient visits and/or community-based services. Common services will include assessment (vital signs, blood pressure, labs such as glucose levels, diagnostic cardiac monitoring, medication compliance and reconciliation, adherence to discharge instructions, etc.), treatment (wound care, medication administration, post-operative follow-up, etc.), prevention (immunizations, home safety check, health teaching, etc.), and referral (mental health, medical and social services, etc.). Thereby producing better health outcomes and reducing the number of ambulance transports, visits to the emergency department, and hospital readmissions.
Works in cooperation with other stakeholders/key medical providers to offer coordinated and integrated care (physician offices, home health agencies, hospice, long term care facilities, public health department, social services, etc.).
Serves as a trained “navigator” of community resources, connecting patients to agencies and services they may not be aware of (i.e. Franklin County Health Department, Volunteers in Medicine, Vision Behavioral Health etc.). Reduces barriers to care.
Consistently demonstrates professional behavior and performs proactive interventions which support the Mission, Vision and Values of Franklin County Emergency Services. 
Builds and advocates for the program. Creates community engagement. Functions as physician and hospital extenders by utilizing advanced protocols/procedures approved by the Medical Director.
Provides outreach education to the public (i.e. Hands-Only CPR, Tar River Festival, School career days etc.).  
Documents visits in electronic medical record. Enters required information into client database in order collect and analyze statistics for evaluation plan.
Participates on Quality Assurance/Quality Management Committee.
Acts in the capacity of a 911 Field Staff Paramedic as needed. Maintains all knowledge, skills, and competencies to perform this role.
May perform moderate or waived point of care testing per CLIA guidelines.
Demonstrates standards of performance (ownership, teamwork, communication, compassion) that support patient satisfaction and principles of service excellence.
Develops and maintains relationships with county agencies.
Attends conferences, training classes, meetings to remain current in laws, rules and regulations.
Serves as member of various professional committees.
Assists the Director and other staff as needed.
Staffs the EOC in the event of activation.
Provides stand-by coverage as special events.
Aids members of volunteer emergency medical service organizations as requested.
Participates in informal training activities and in formal in-service training classes to maintain required certifications; attends other training opportunities.
Participates in community outreach programs; conducts training in First Aid and CPR classes; attends programs such as Tar River Festival, Safe Kids, Bike Rodeo, car seat awareness, etc. to promote safety and prevention awareness and to provide information on services.

Additional Job Duties
Aids members of volunteer emergency medical service organizations as requested.
Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Comprehensive knowledge of basic and advanced emergency medical procedures and techniques.
Considerable knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
Comprehensive knowledge of equipment and supplies employed in the emergency care of patients and victims of accidents.
Thorough skill forming a general impression of a victim’s condition and applying emergency medical care.
General knowledge of county geography and of the location of roads and streets within the County.
General knowledge of radio communications equipment.
Ability to operate a personal computer and related software and to type with accuracy.
Ability to prepare ambulance call reports and other reports using appropriate grammar, medical terminology and abbreviations, and to write legibly.
Ability to perform duties in accordance with established emergency medical procedures and techniques, medical protocols and standing orders.
Ability to respond quickly and calmly to emergency situations.
Ability to operate emergency vehicles for long periods of time during both day and night, in congested traffic and in unsafe road conditions caused by factors such as fog, smoke, rain, ice, and snow, and in emergency situations involving speeds in excess of posted limits, in a safe and professional manner with respect to environmental conditions, vehicles abilities, driver abilities, organizational expectations through policies, procedures, directives, and standards, and observe motor vehicle laws.
Ability to effectively restrain patients, forcibly if necessary, using humane restraints and maneuvers to minimize injury to the patient and co-workers.
Ability to perform medical care and other duties which may involve lifting, carrying patients over uneven surfaces, climbing up to and down from elevated surfaces, climbing through openings, carrying equipment and patients down steps.
Ability to understand and follow oral and written direction.
Ability to work with a diverse socioeconomic population based on the unique situations encountered.
Ability to deal with stress and death and dying patients.
Ability to endure verbal abuse when confronted with the hostile views and opinions of patients, family members, and bystanders in antagonistic environments.
Ability to read and comprehend maps.
Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with other members of the EMS system and the public.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of patient information.

Physical Requirements

Work requires the ability to perform very heavy work exerting more than 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 75 pounds of force frequently, and/or 50 pounds of force constantly to move objects; lifting independently more than 125 pounds (or combined weight of 250 pounds).

Work regularly requires speaking or hearing, frequently requires standing, sitting, using hands to finger, handle or feel, and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, smelling and pushing or pulling.

Work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision.

Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly.

Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound. 

 Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arm’s length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities.

Work frequently requires working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles and exposure to outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working in high, precarious places, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to extreme cold (non-weather), exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), exposure to the risk of electrical shock, exposure to vibration, and exposure to blood-borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment.

Work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic). 

High School diploma and moderate experience in advanced emergency medical service work as a Paramedic; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.  Minimum of three (3) years Paramedic experience.Certification by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services as a Paramedic; Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification; Pediatric 
 Completion of NIMS 100, 200, and 700, and 800. 
Community Paramedic Certification Program completion required within 1 year of hire.
Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license upon hire.