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…