Sample Position Description—Critical Care Transport Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic

Position Description

• Practices in accordance with philosophy, policies, procedures, and stan­dards of the hospital; functions within the guidelines of the protocols for the transport program that are reviewed and agreed on by medical and nursing directors.

• As a team member during transport, functions to identify, plan, imple­ment, and evaluate the stabilization and emergency care of the acutely ill neonates, infants, children, and/or adolescents in collaboration with the team leader and medical control physician. The transport paramedic is responsible for assisting the team leader in obtaining pertinent mater­nal, neonatal, and childhood histories, performing physical assessments (neonates through adolescents), and formulating and implementing care management plans. Responsible for performing necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures within the scope of practice of a paramedic.

• With expertise in the prehospital setting, the paramedic is responsible for ensuring that while in the out-of-hospital setting, the transport team is working in a safe and secure environment. Provides family-centered care to meet family needs, including psychosocial support, education, and transfer planning in conjunction with referral staff.

• Participates in educational and professional development of transport and other team members.

• Represents the hospital to health care professionals in referring hospitals.

• Maintains effective communication with referral staff, families, and the emergency medical services (EMS) system.

• Participates in the education of referral staff and prehospital care providers through informal teaching and planned educational conferences.

• Initiates and participates in educational, research, professional, and orga­nizational activities that contribute to improving patient care, the transport program operation, and the individual’s own professional development.

Reporting Relationship

Reports to:

• Medical director of the transport program for the supervision and guid­ance in expanded role function.

• MCP as designated for medical supervision concerning the management of individual neonatal and pediatric patients during transport.

• Transport program director or designee for clinical and administrative aspects of practice. If EMS services are outsourced, may report to EMS director of contracted service.

Requirements

1. Requires a minimum of 3 years of practice as a paramedic. Pediatric and critical care transport experience preferred.

2. Current in Basic Life Support for the Health Care Provider, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. Certification in NRP and ATLS preferred. Critical care Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMT-P) certification preferred.

3. State licensure as a paramedic.

4. Computer literacy.

5. Holds current passport or is eligible to apply for one, if the program intends to perform international transports.

6. Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills at EMS, staff, patient, and family levels.

Major Responsibilities and Duties

I. Patient care activities

A. Obtains pertinent maternal, neonatal, and pediatric histories with emphasis on risk factors and their implications for problems.

B. Performs pertinent physical assessment.

C. Assists in assessing patient weight for use in calibration of medica­tion and fluid management.

D. Formulates a plan for management of existing and potential prob­lems in collaboration with the team leader and MCP.

E. Performs (or assists with, as per team protocol) necessary diagnos­tic and therapeutic procedures as indicated for identification and management of problems, including (but not limited to):

1. Airway management, including assessment, stabilization, bag­mask oxygenation and ventilation, endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy management, and rescue airways

2.

3. Insertion of intraosseous needle for emergency vascular access

4. Spinal immobilization

5. Trauma triage care

6. Blood drawing and insertion of peripheral catheters

F. Provides clinical management for resuscitation of the newborn, pediatric, and adolescent patients, including necessary pharmaco­logic support.

G. Performs in accordance with standing orders, and accurately docu­ments delivery of care.

H. Communicates information about the patient's diagnosis, plan of management, and prognosis to the referring physician, parents, and other members of the health care team.

I. Assesses parents' psychosocial needs, and initiates referral to appropriate consultants.

J. Obtains informed consent from parents or guardians.

K. Provides ongoing monitoring, assessment, and appropriate inter­ventions in transit.

L. Ensures patient safety in the transport process.

M. Completes documentation in an accurate and timely manner, and transfers care of the patient to the receiving hospital staff.

II. Education

A. Contributes to community outreach and education.

B. Assists in the assessment of staff developmental needs, discusses the assessment with the transport team coordinator and medical director, and participates actively in plans to meet those needs.

C. Participates in teaching or coordination of in-service classes or workshops for the transport staff.

D. Serves as a preceptor in the training of future transport paramedics.

III. Operation of transport equipment

A. Demonstrates knowledge of operation of all transport equipment, and ensures proper functioning before transport.

B. Participates in the ongoing evaluation of transport equipment needs. Reports and documents transport equipment repairs as needed to biomedical engineering.

C. Demonstrates knowledge of aircraft and ambulance operating procedures and safety practices.

IV. Special assignments/project responsibilities

A.

B. Performs the following transport quality improvement activities:

1. Maintains, supports, and documents evidence of a planned, systematic quality improvement program that includes effec­tive mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the patient care provided by the transport service.

2. Ensures appropriate and adequate response to findings from quality improvement activities.

3. Maximizes the efficient use of resources available to provide neonatal-pediatric transports.

4. Identifies opportunities to improve care.

V. Leadership

A. Initiates and participates in the implementation of change in transport paramedic policies, procedures, and/or practice to enhance the quality of patient care.

B. Participates with transport staff in problem identification, goal setting, and transport care delivery evaluation.

C. Uses previous clinical experience and knowledge to identify potential patient care problems related to transport.

D. Serves as a resource or consultant to nursing and medical staff regarding prehospital and triage in neonatal and pediatric transport.

VI. Professional accountability

A. Demonstrates continued professional growth through continuing education and review of current literature pertaining to neonatal- pediatric transport.

B. Maintains licensure, certifications, and competency through required training and/or education.

C. Maintains professional relationships with the EMS system, com­munity physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals.

D. Participates in peer review of the transport team members and case reviews with the medical director.

VII. Research

A. Identifies researchable patient care problems related to transport.

B. Uses evidence-based research findings in patient care.

C. Cooperates and/or collaborates with other health care team members in the conduct of research studies.

VIII. Physical capabilities

A.

B. There is a potential for regular exposure to patients with infectious diseases requiring observance of appropriate precautions.

C. Flexible working hours required to provide 24 hour/day, 7 day/ week coverage, including rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, and on call.

D. Dependability in regard to attendance at work, team meetings, paramedic meetings, committee meetings, etc.

IX. Environmental conditions

Indoor and outdoor environments with possible exposure to infec­tious, biological, and chemical agents. Occasionally requires working in proximity to sources of radiation. Work area includes riding in enclosed spaces such as ambulances, helicopters, and airplanes. Work environment commonly provides exposure to high noise levels.

4.