Community Paramedic (Grant Funded)

Grant Funded Position  Under general supervision, the Community Paramedic (CP) provides proactive, preventive care through an integrated, team approach that is intended to help improve the overall health and wellness of program participants.  This role extends access to non-urgent health care through in-home patient visits and/or community-based services.  The CP works in cooperation with other stakeholders, the participant's medical home, the participant, and the participant's support system.  The CP works in conjunction with an Integrated Case Manager, a Behavioral Health Clinician and many other medical and behavioral health providers to develop an individualized plan of care.  Cooperatively, the team provides outreach education to the participant and to the community-at-large.

• Provides proactive care that is intended to help improve the overall health and wellness of the program participants.  Requires excellent rapport, understanding, and communication with patients and their family members.
• Expands access to non-urgent health care through in-home patient visits and/or community-based services.  Common services will include:  assessment (vital signs, blood pressure, labs such as glucose levels, diagnostic cardiac monitoring, clinical use breathalyzer, medication compliance and reconciliation, adherence to discharge instructions, etc.), Prevention (immunizations, home safety check, health teaching, etc...) and referral (mental health, medical and social services, etc...).  Thereby producing better health outcomes and reducing the number of ambulance transports, visits to the emergency department, and hospital re-admissions. Strong assessment skills are a must.
• Works in cooperation with other stakeholders and key medical providers in order to offer coordinated and integrated care (physician offices, hospital, home health agencies, hospice, long term care facilities, public health department, social services, mental health and substance abuse, etc...).  Maintains clear and concise communication in compliance with HIPAA standards.
• Serves as a trained "navigator" of community resources, connecting patients to agencies and services they may not be aware of and helps to reduce barriers that prevent access to care.
• Consistently demonstrates professional behavioral and performs proactive interventions which support the Mission, Vision and Values of the Integrated Health Care Program and Rockingham County EMS.  Responds to patient complaints.
• Builds and advocates for the program.  Creates community engagement.  Functions as physician and hospital extenders by utilizing advanced protocols/procedures approved by the Medical Director.
• Provides education to participants and their support system regarding medical diagnosis (es)/disease process and warning signs, medications, nutrition, home-safety, and self-care.
• Provides outreach education to the general public (i.e. hands-only CPR, car seat and bike helmet clinics, health & safety day community training, etc...).
• Documents visits in an electronic medical record.  Enters required information into client database in order to collect and analyze statistics for evaluation plan.
• Participates in the EMS Quality Management Committee as requested.
• Acts in the capacity of a Traditional EMT-Paramedic as needed.  Maintains all knowledge, skills and competencies to perform this role (Refer to Staff Paramedic Job Description RCEMS-Field Operations).  This includes responding  as part of Special Operations Unit to Natural or Manmade Disaster(s), such as incidents of multiple casualties to include adverse weather conditions, mass immunizations or hazardous materials incidents in accordance with established disaster response plan:....including use of hazardous materials response kit.  A Special Operations Unit can also include providing medical oversight during Emergency Shelter Operations as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• May perform moderate or waived point of care testing per CLIA guidelines.
• Demonstrates standards of performance (ownership, teamwork, communication, compassion) that support patient satisfaction and principles of service excellence.
• Perform medical clearance screenings for patients with mental health or substance abuse diagnosis seeking inpatient treatment.
• Wears protective equipment (PPE) when contact with bodily fluids of patients and reports incidents of exposure in accordance with state laws and County policy.  Cleans or discards contaminated equipment according to established policies and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional Job Functions: Assess patients, recognizing need for immediate transport or conducting interview with patient to ascertain extend of present condition.

• Assists in training of new personnel.
• Attends conferences, seminars, workshops, classes, lectures, Etc. as appropriate to enhance and maintain knowledge of trends and development in the field of emergency medicine; completes course work as required to obtain and maintain certification; participates in activities of department committees and/or professional organizations as appropriate.
• Performs all duties in a safe, courteous, confidential and professional manner always taking into account the well-being of the patient and personal safety.
• At each shift, inspects vehicle to ensure that it is ready for service (brakes, lights, fluids, etc...) and maintains a clean and professional appearance.
• Daily/Weekly medication/equipment checks as indicated on the shift check list.

Physical Requirements Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including suction units, immobilization equipment, intravenous infusions, M.A.S.T. pants, syringes and medications, and cardiac monitors/defibrillators/pacers; two-way radios, mechanics tools, etc. Must be able to exert up to 150 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 75 pounds of force frequently, and/or 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.  Physical demand requirements are those for Very Heavy Work.

High School Diploma or GED equivalent.  Successful completion of an accepted EMT-Paramedic Program. College Degree preferred.  Specific Community Paramedic Training is to be completed within 6 months of hire through an agency approved EMS Teaching Institution, on-the-job training or any other combination of educational resources as approved by Rockingham County EMS System Administration, DHHS Director and Integrated Health Care Program Medical Direction. Minimum of 3 years Paramedic experience, with 1 year of service at RCEMS preferred. Licensure/Certifications:  Current and valid North Carolina EMT-Paramedic certification.  BCLS, ACLS, PALS or PEPP and ITLS or PHTLS is required.  Must meet general EMS driving requirements.  EVO or EVD or CEVO III is required to drive during emergency situations such as mass casualty calls.  Incident Command System 100, 200, 700, 800 and 704 are required within 1 year of employment Valid driver's license in the State of NC; driver's history subject to approval.

This is a grant-funded position, with the possibility of continued funding.  Note: In accordance with State mandates and the Rockingham County Emergency Operations Plan, Rockingham County Health and Human Services staff from the Divisions of Social Services, Public Health and Integrated Health are required to staff emergency shelters during times of disaster. Please be advised that every staff person is eligible to be assigned to an emergency shelter or Emergency Operations Center.