Emergency Medical Technician - EMT

About the role

An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) provides Basic Life Support (BLS) services for both emergency and non-emergency requests assigned by the appropriate dispatch authority in a timely, professional manner. The role assures safe and prompt transportation of patients while ensuring care is performed professionally. This position requires flexibility and may include working in hazardous conditions and uncontrolled environments while wearing appropriate PPE. The EMT must use critical thinking skills to assess, triage, communicate, treat, and transport patients of all ages and populations in various settings, including emergency and non-emergency transport, standby, special events, and other settings where BLS services may be provided. The EMT must integrate care seamlessly with all other emergency agencies including police, fire, ALS, other BLS, and healthcare providers in inpatient and outpatient settings. Patient care reports must be completed for each patient. Daily operational tasks are required in support of the department. All actions must comply with State of New Jersey Regulations (N.J.A.C. 8:40) regarding Emergency Medical Technicians and HMH protocols, policies, and procedures for BLS services. The team serves Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union Counties.

Responsibilities

• Responds to calls in a timely manner.
• Assists and supports all public safety personnel and other healthcare providers when rendering patient care.
• Assesses the patient and provides pre-hospital basic life support treatment in accordance with each patient's condition.
• Observes and reports any pertinent changes in the patient's condition or behavior to other clinicians during care and at handoff.
• Attends to the needs of the patient in a timely manner, keeping the patient comfortable in all weather conditions during transport.
• Identifies needs of the patient population served and modifies and delivers care specific to those needs (age, culture, language, hearing and/or visually impaired, etc.), including communicating with the patient, parent, and/or primary caregiver(s) at their level (developmental/age, educational, literacy, etc.).
• Provides effective pre-hospital care by obtaining essential data from the patient, patient's family, and other available sources.
• Completes a thorough physical examination so that appropriate interventions can be performed as indicated.
• Observes, records, and reports all pertinent medical information to the medical control physician in an organized manner; updates the medical control physician or designee as necessary.
• Operates motor vehicles safely and professionally in compliance with all laws, HMH policies, and guidelines for emergency vehicle operation, with due regard for the public, alternating driving responsibilities reasonably with partners.
• Performs and documents a daily vehicle and equipment check and walk-around to check for hazards before operating the vehicle.
• Maintains adequate fuel and fluid levels of vehicles.
• Maintains the vehicle interior in a clean manner and removes trash and debris.
• Demonstrates safe and appropriate use of all vehicle equipment; appropriately parks and secures the vehicle when unattended.
• Operates wireless communication devices professionally to accept and acknowledge dispatches, obtain medical control, etc.
• Cooperates and assists with the Quality Assurance program to evaluate overall quality of care, document trends, resolve problems, and monitor patient outcomes.
• Provides complete verbal handoff when transferring care to a receiving healthcare provider per HMH policy.
• Completes a patient care report in a timely manner for each patient contact according to HMH policy and applicable State and Federal statutes and regulations, alternating documentation responsibilities reasonably with partners.
• Documents and reports all unusual events/incidents/occurrences per HMH policy and department-specific procedures.
• Responsible for routine troubleshooting, maintenance, and cleaning of EMS equipment, vehicles, and station facilities; promptly reports equipment failures/problems per department guidelines and HMH incident reporting procedures.
• Maintains par levels of necessary supplies, including all equipment and supplies stocked in vehicles and quarters, cleaning and repairing as necessary throughout the shift.
• Properly disposes of soiled linen and regulated medical waste per HMH policy.
• Provides education within the scope and training of an EMT and as directed by leadership.
• Maintains baseline and continuing knowledge of HMH policies and procedures, and all applicable State and Federal statutes and regulations concerning EMS, BLS services, EMT certification, and other topics relevant to the role.
• Ensures copies of all required certifications are current and submitted to department leadership per HMH policy; notifies leadership immediately if a required certification cannot be validated.
• Maintains clinical competency by participating in all required training and individualized patient care quality reviews per HMH policy, state and federal licensure and certification standards.
• Provides excellent customer service and initiates service recovery when necessary.
• Behaves in accordance with HMH Code of Conduct and Standards of Behavior, conducting oneself professionally and dignified at all times to preserve the public's perception of HMH as New Jersey's leading healthcare provider.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
• Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS-100 or ICS-100.b or Introduction to Incident Command System for Healthcare/Hospitals or National Incident Management System).
• ICS-200 Incident Command System (ICS-200 or ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents or Applying ICS to Healthcare Organizations).
• ICS-700.a National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction or NIMS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction.
• IS-800.D National Response Framework, An Introduction.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient computer skills including but not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of BLS experience.
• 911 experience preferred.

Licenses & Certifications

• Current NJ Emergency Medical Technician certification, or current National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians - EMT Basic certification, or certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (basic) issued by a state with direct reciprocity with New Jersey (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New York). Eligible non-NJ EMTs must obtain NJ EMT certification within 6 months of hire.
• AHA Basic Life Support Health Care Provider Certification or BLS Instructor Certification.
• Valid Driver's License from a USA state.
• CEVO Certified Emergency Vehicle Operator training or EVOC Emergency Vehicle Operations Course within 90 days of hire.

Working Conditions

• Capable of performing all listed duties throughout assigned shift.
• Able to lift and move patients and equipment in varied circumstances.
• Physically capable of safely driving an emergency vehicle in compliance with all applicable statutes and regulations, in all lighting and weather conditions.
• Lift a fully loaded ambulance stretcher (stretcher/patient/equipment/supplies) weighing at least 350 pounds from ground level to ambulance patient compartment level, hold at that height for a minimum of 60 seconds, and safely place the stretcher in the ambulance (and reverse), with the assistance of one partner of equal strength and agility.
• Carry half of the required EMS equipment (approximately 50 lbs.) from