Community Paramedic

About the role

Under supervision of the Medical Director and Manager or designee, you will perform the role of Community Paramedic, delivering patient care, training, equipment use and maintenance, and supporting research efforts. You will maintain clinical skills, knowledge of literature in the field, and outreach and training objectives while role-modeling Brown University Health’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. Core Success Factors include Instill Trust and Value Differences, Patient and Community Focus, and Collaborate.

Responsibilities

• Consistently apply corporate values and pursue excellence in improving health status through customer-friendly, high-value services within an integrated academic health system.
• Act in accordance with the Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University Health Corporate Compliance Program and Code of Conduct.
• Function as a member of a healthcare team, providing assessment and care to patients with chronic medical, prenatal, and behavioral problems.
• Identify patient needs and connect patients with available community and medical resources.
• Perform duties in accordance with established community paramedicine procedures and techniques, exercising independent judgment.
• Support existing health services by providing integrated care in partnership with other health professionals, extending access to underserved populations.
• Assist in developing patient care protocols and methods, and participate in training curricula and research.
• Conduct post-hospital release follow-up care, including monitoring medications, dressing changes, and checking vital signs.
• Observe, record, and report patients’ conditions, reactions to treatments, and significant incidents to physicians.
• Provide patient education on topics such as diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, COPD, fall assessments, geriatric frailty, and nutrition.
• Perform home safety evaluations, blood draws, Point of Care testing, and ultrasound.
• Pick up and deliver patient needs such as medications, and schedule community paramedic visits.
• Perform essential functions of a paramedic, including examining, screening, treating, and coordinating health services for patients.
• Document all encounters within community paramedic protocols in both EMS ePCR and Epic hospital charting.
• Maintain clear communication with patients, families, physicians, and healthcare personnel using various forms of communication.
• Use software programs including electronic health records and general office software to prepare reports, logs, and document observations and treatments.
• Attend required staff and educational meetings, and stay current with literature in relevant program areas.
• Assist in writing presentations and papers for publication based on research, and present findings at conferences.
• Complete patient documentation per Rhode Island Hospital and The Rhode Island Department of Health: Division of EMS in a timely manner.
• Perform public education, marketing, and outreach while maintaining a positive attitude toward patients, families, and coworkers.
• Maintain a clean operational environment, retrieve, stock, and clean medical equipment.
• Report to remote locations for duty and respond to on-call emergencies, disasters, and major incidents.
• Perform data entry, clerical assistance, and assist with Emergency Department communications and dispatch.

Requirements

• Current State of Rhode Island EMT-Paramedic license with a minimum of 1 year field EMS experience.
• Current Paramedic certification through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
• Current ACLS, BLS, and PALS certifications (instructor status preferred).
• Valid and current driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, Nursing, or related field preferred.
• Ability to read, speak, write, and comprehend English without restriction.
• Working knowledge of statistics, verbal and written English communication skills, and computer use and research methodology.
• Ability to maintain positive communication with employees, patients, referring hospitals, and the community.
• Adherence to Brown University Health policies and procedures and safety standards set by Rhode Island Hospital and The Rhode Island Department of Health.
• Maintain clinical skill proficiency within scope of practice, including patient assessment, medication administration, airway management, ECG monitoring, and ventilator management.
• Prepared for unrestricted travel in ambulances, cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, and helicopters.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills to provide care considering aging processes, human development stages, and cultural patterns.

Physical Requirements

• Capable of performing in cramped quarters and any weather condition, including exposure to hazardous materials.
• Physical condition allowing running, climbing, carrying medical equipment, and lifting patients.
• Able to stand erect from a squatting position while lifting 175 pounds between two people (agility testing monitored annually).
• Free of motion sickness or history thereof, and free of physical ailments impairing consciousness or cognitive ability.
• Ability to stand, walk, run, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, balance, bend, twist, swim, and perform CPR for extended periods.
• Lift, carry, push, or pull 100 lbs or more.
• Perform fine motor skills such as handling, grasping, fingering, IV insertion, use of a scalpel, and patient bandaging.
• Far and near vision (corrected) for driving, reading, writing, and patient assessment.
• Hearing adequate for conversing in normal tones, hearing equipment sounds, alarms, and using communication devices.
• Visual color discrimination for identifying labels, patient assessment, and reading placards.
• Dynamic strength for climbing stairs with equipment and patients.
• Explosive strength for running up stairs, lifting, and escaping hazards.
• Static strength for carrying equipment and lifting/carrying patients.
• Stamina for climbing flights of stairs and performing CPR for long periods.

Experience

One year of experience in emergency medical care.

Work Environment

• Variable environments, including in- and out-of-hospital emergency and non-emergency care situations, disaster situations, and exposure to unknown substances or risks.
• Exposure to ill and injured patients in clinical, medical simulation, and training environments.
• Travel in vehicles including ambulances and aircraft, and travel to conferences in other areas of the country.
• Enter unkept homes and travel to high-crime areas for patient care.

Independent Action

Perform independently within policies, practices, and protocols established by the physician medical director and program director. Refer complex problems to the medical director or manager for clarification of departmental policies and procedures.

Schedule

0730-1800, 4 shifts per week, rotating weekends and holidays.