Emergency Medical Dispatcher

Emergency Medical Dispatcher

AL EMS Headquarters - Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Position Type:
Full Time Job Shift: Any Education Level: High School Travel Percentage:
None Category:
Health Care

Summary: The Dispatcher functions as a Call-taker telecommunicator and is responsible for receiving, recording and effectively managing requests for medical assistance/transport from various sources. The Dispatcher will provide pre-arrival instructions as necessary and will coordinate dispatch and communications activities to ensure the most appropriate EMS response.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Understands and adequately implements the concepts of EMD (as customized by North Star) as a minimum standard of care
• Allocates EMS resources properly as the need arises by application of appropriate decision making rules and approved protocols.
• Manages radio communications in a prompt, accurate, courteous and professional manner.
• Selects and dispatches appropriate vehicle(s) including ALS, BLS, First Responder, Fire Rescue and any other ancillary support units to emergency/nonemergency requests for assistance.
• Responsible and accountable for completeness and accuracy of paperwork related to his/her position prior to completion of shift.
• Responsible for accurate and complete data entry for the shift.
• Responsible for generating applicable reports and checking for accuracy.
• Assists in locating scene of incidents and selecting the safest, fastest route to such scene using all available locator aids.
• Keeps track of locations, status and condition of each unit at all times.
• Relays instructions from supervisors, messages and emergency information.
• Maintains a current working knowledge of all company policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and memorandums.
• Responsible and accountable for updating management and operations personnel on any changes affecting the company and/or extraordinary situations.
• Follows established parameters/formats in receiving requests for service and dispatching ambulances.
• Responsible for knowledge and use of equipment, including but not limited to the computer, printers, 911 equipment, recording devices, telephones, and other equipment as assigned by superiors.
• Provides input in the development of deployment plans.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Stress Factors:

Occasionally:
Repetitive tasks, high pressure

Frequently:
Intense tasks.

Working Environment:

Occasionally:
Extended day.

Constantly:
Works alone, with and around others, face-to-face and verbal contact, Able to work inside.

Although the noise level in the work area is not at a high level, there are often multiple radio and traffic noises going on at the same time along with regular high-pitched beeping sounds and voices of co-workers handling calls.

Equipment Used:

Occasionally: stapler, sharpener, calculator.

Frequently:
Telephone, cell phone, terminal, facsimile, computer/typewriter, keyboard, radio console/equipment, playback recorder

Unusual Demands:

· Employees are required to handle multiple tasks concerning emergency medical calls that are frequently life threatening or major health threatening to other individuals.

· Required tasks arise from spontaneous situations occurring most often without warning.

· Employees must interact with hostile and/or uncooperative individuals via telephone contact. They must interact with individuals who are confused and unclear.

· They must utilize the information they gather to make quick and accurate decisions regarding action needed.

· They must be able to take down information correctly under all types of adverse communications situations.

· Due to the unpredictability of this type of position, it is not always possible to guarantee meal and/or break periods.

Due to the unpredictability of this type of position, the employee must be available for immediate recall in emergency or unusual situations and must be able to work extraordinary hours during times of disaster or threat of disaster

Minimum Qualifications:

· Medical training is an asset, e.g., at least First Responder trained (proof of training required) at time of employment or, has at least one year's experience as…