EMT Paramedic

Schedule

Full time position working three, 12-hour shifts per week from 7:00 am–7:30 pm on a repeating two-week matrix schedule. Week 1: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; Week 2: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

About the role

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)/Paramedic position in the Imaging Department responsible for assisting in the delivery of patient care and services to a diverse patient population and their families. Duties include performing EKGs, collecting lab specimens under the direction of licensed nurses and/or providers, and performing patient care activities of daily living within unit-specific defined limits. Conducts hourly rounding to ensure patient needs are met, reports observations and patient problems to the licensed nurse and/or provider, and practices Patient and Family Centered Care in concert with Houston Methodist Experience standards.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the delivery of patient care and services to a diverse patient population and their families
• Perform EKGs and collect lab specimens under the direction of licensed nurses and/or providers
• Conduct patient care activities of daily living (ADLs) within unit-specific defined limits
• Communicate appropriately and carry out delegated tasks
• Conduct hourly rounding to ensure patient needs are met and record data established by policy and procedure
• Report observations and patient problems to the licensed nurse and/or provider
• Practice Patient and Family Centered Care in concert with Houston Methodist Experience standards

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent (examples include GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education)
• Completion of EMT-A, EMT-Paramedic program, or licensed Paramedic, and/or currently participating in an EMT to Paramedic program with classification of an EMT-Advanced
• Six months pre-hospital experience or six months hospital experience as an EMT or Paramedic

Licenses and Certifications

• One of the following:
  • LP – Licensed Paramedic – State Licensure
  • EMT-A – Emergency Medical Technician-Advanced – State Certification
  • EMT-P – Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic – State Certification
• BLS – Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association
• ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association
• PALS – Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association
• NVCRISIS – Nonviolent Crisis Intervention or Instructor (CPI) – Crisis Prevention Institute

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English to perform essential functions, especially regarding patient or employee safety or security
• Effectively communicates with patients, physicians, family members, and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and positive language principles
• Exercises judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team, patients, and their families
• Displays strong time management skills and adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision
• Demonstrates ability to access information both in the department and within the hospital system to support the department and interprofessional healthcare team
• Possesses competent computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems including electronic health records (e.g., Epic) and Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) to maintain patient information
• Performs basic EKG interpretation
• Applies basic knowledge of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act

Essential Functions

People

• Functions as a team member, responding willingly and positively to colleagues’ needs for assistance and partnership
• Promotes a positive work environment with the interprofessional care team
• Problem-solves and manages several ongoing priorities with minimal supervision
• Serves as a role model using critical thinking; mentors new EMTs and ancillary personnel regarding unit procedures, role, and unit readiness as team leader in patient decontamination operations
• Interacts with peers, staff, and physicians in a supportive and respectful manner; encourages open communication to achieve mutual understanding
• Collaborates with all members of the interprofessional team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information in a clear and timely manner
• Serves as an educational resource for unit competency and validation procedures applicable to the role
• Contributes toward improvement of department scores for employee engagement on unit-based scorecard through peer-to-peer accountability

Service

• Role models patient and family-centered care standards and provides direct patient care under the direction of a registered nurse
• Documents comprehensive screenings, care administered, diagnostic measurements, allergies and medication lists, treatments, and procedures as determined by skills, training, and validation (e.g., vital signs, 12-lead EKG, phlebotomy, ultrasound-guided IV catheter insertion, CPR, splinting, specimen collection, immobilization by backboard, extrication from vehicles) in accordance with established policies and procedures
• Repeats vital signs according to policy
• Observes patients, making hourly rounds to ensure patient needs are met (four Ps), and for condition change
• Reports observations, conditions, and problems of patients to the licensed nurse to achieve desired patient outcomes
• Responds to the call light system, contacting nursing personnel as appropriate, and follows through with meeting patient needs
• Contributes toward improving department scores for patient satisfaction on unit-based scorecard through peer-to-peer accountability, including bedside shift handoff/report

Quality/Safety

• Uses rapid assessment skills to accurately identify patients’ severity of illnesses, deterioration of conditions, and risks for adverse events, and communicates findings to licensed nurse and/or provider
• Applies critical thinking skills to recognize abnormal ECGs, vital signs, and mental status to monitor high-risk patients out of the department as delegated
• Manages incoming patient information by receiving pre-arrival notifications from EMS providers per unit protocols
• Provides for the privacy of patients and families, keeping patient safety in mind
• Reports “near misses” and inputs errors promptly into PSN to improve processes and identify trends
• Supports initiatives to prevent conditions such as pressure injuries, patient falls, and hospital-acquired infections
• Contributes to identification of corrective action and improvement activities impacting quality and safety targets on the unit-based scorecard through peer-to-peer accountability and collaboration with the interprofessional team

Finance

• Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies
• Assists with patient and staffing needs (floats) across the service line or hospital as competencies allow
• Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, minimizing incidental overtime
• Role models effective time management and coordinates colleagues to meet overall demands of the unit
• Maintains an orderly environment that facilitates access to supplies, equipment, and resource information
• Assists in the inventory, monitoring, and ordering of supplies and medical equipment to maintain par levels

Growth/Innovation

• Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development, assisting with improving skills, performance, and outcomes
• Identifies own learning needs, consults with healthcare team experts, and seeks continuing education opportunities to meet those needs
• Fosters a positive and constructive patient care environment by engaging co-workers in learning opportunities valuable and aligned with department objectives
• Offers innovative solutions through participation in performance improvement projects and shared governance activities
• Completes and updates the My Development plan on an ongoing basis

Work Attire

• Uniform: No
• Scrubs: Yes
• Business professional: No
• Other (department approved): Yes