POSITION DESCRIPTION

COUNTY OF STEUBEN, INDIANA

POSITION:                           Emergency Medical Technician

DEPARTMENT:                  Ambulance Service

WORK SCHEDULE:          12-hour or 24-Hour shifts, rotating schedule

STATUS: Full-time

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function of the position satisfactorily. The requirements listed in the document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. The County of Steuben provides reasonable accommodation to qualified employees and applicants with known disabilities who require accommodation to complete the application process or perform essential functions of the job, unless those accommodations would present undue hardship.

Incumbent serves as Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for the Steuben County Ambulance Service, responsible for treatment, care and safe transportation of sick and/or injured individuals.

DUTIES:

Responds to calls for emergency medical service, including driving/riding to scene, assessing patient condition, treating and stabilizing patients, transporting patients to appropriate medical facilities and assisting medical facility personnel upon arrival as needed. Periodically extracts patients from potentially dangerous situations as needed.

Responds to calls for non-emergency medical service, including transporting homebound/disabled patients to medical facilities and transferring patients from one facility to another as assigned.

Maintains appearance and serviceability of Department vehicle, garage, equipment and supplies, including cleaning, washing, waxing vehicles, checking fluids and emergency equipment, maintaining and stocking supplies, checking oxygen and battery levels, laundering linens, and cleaning and maintaining station. Checks inventory the ambulance daily and reorders supplies to maintain the proper inventory level.

Completes and maintains various forms, records and reports as required, including patient and accident reports, vehicle, equipment, and building maintenance records and training records.

Attends prescribed training programs for various certifications as assigned or required.

Serves on 24-hour call for emergencies.

Performs related duties as assigned.

I. JOB REQUIREMENTS AND DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

High School Diploma or HSE. Must possess valid Indiana Emergency Medical Technician certification.

Ability to complete and maintain required certifications, including Emergency Medical Technician, CPR, PHTLS, EVOC, and Hazardous Materials Responder. One must complete PHTLS and EVOC and maintain these certifications within two (2) years of employment.

Thorough knowledge of and ability to make practical application of customary practices, procedures, rules and regulations of the Department and state, area geography and radio frequencies, codes, procedures and limitations.

Working knowledge of and ability to properly use and maintain all assigned vehicles and equipment, including, but not limited to, heart monitor/defibrillator, blood pressure, intravenous therapy, oxygen, suction and immobilization equipment.

Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation, and ability to complete forms, records, and prepare reports within required deadlines.

Ability to recognize signs and symptoms of some communicable diseases and dangers of blood-borne pathogens and protect oneself from contamination by utilizing universal health precautions and avoiding high risk environments.

Ability to effectively listen, comprehend and communicate with co-workers, medical and other emergency personnel, patients and their families, other County departments and agencies, Dispatchers, medical treatment facilities, and the public, by radio, telephone or in person, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities and disabilities.

Ability to provide public access to, or maintain confidentiality of, Department information and records according to state requirements.

Shall comply with all employer and Department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.

Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out written or oral instructions and present findings in oral or written form.

Ability to physically perform the essential duties of the position, including but not limited to, sitting, walking up/down flights of stairs, lifting carrying patients/objects, kneeling/crouching and handling/grasping objects.

Ability to respond swiftly, rationally, and decisively with injured and/or distraught individuals in emergency situations and respond appropriately from off-duty status as required.

Ability to perform essential functions of the position without posing a direct threat to the health and safety of self and other individuals in the workplace.

Ability to adapt to changing weather conditions, work environments, irregular and/or extended hours and to perform duties despite the stress of potential injury/loss of life to others.

Ability to obey all orders and directions from Director, Assistant Director, Medical Director or shift supervisor regarding all medical policy and procedures set forth by the Department.

Ability to follow all personnel policies and rules of the organization. Possession of a valid driver’s license and demonstrated safe driving record.

II. RESPONSIBILITY:

Incumbent performs a wide variety of emergency medical tasks according to standardized procedures of the profession, exercising independent judgment in rapidly assessing patient condition and determining appropriate care as situations demand. Unusual situations, such as equipment failure, and accidents, are referred to supervisor. Incumbent’s work is reviewed in progress and upon completion of specific duties for compliance with Department policies and procedures. Errors in work are primarily prevented through procedural safeguards, but undetected errors may result in damage to equipment and/or endangerment of self and/or others.

III.  PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

Incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, medical and other emergency personnel, patients and their families, other County departments and agencies, Dispatchers, medical treatment facilities, and the public for the purposes of exchanging and explaining information and rendering emergency medical care.

Incumbent reports directly to Director or Assistant Director.

IV.  PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Incumbent performs a majority of duties in Department garage and in the field, involving sitting/walking at will, sitting/standing/walking for long periods lifting/carrying objects weighing over 100 pounds, handling/grasping/fingering objects, bending, reaching, pushing/pulling, keyboarding, driving, close/far vision, depth/color perception, crouching/kneeling, speaking clearly, and hearing sounds/communication.

Incumbent is frequently exposed to the normal hazards associated with emergency medical response, including, but not limited to, exposure to adverse weather, communicable disease and potentially violent/distraught individual, for which universal health/safety precautions must be followed at all times to avoid contamination and/or injury to self and/or others. No prolonged, extreme physical demands are associated with normal duties or assignments, but incumbent may exert strenuous physical effort for short periods.