EMS Specialist - Open Recruitment (2 Positions)

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

SPECIALIST

$39.45 - $47.94 Hourly
$3,156.04 - $3,835.33 Biweekly
$6,838.09 - $8,309.89 Monthly
$82,057.08 - $99,718.68 Annually

FINAL FILING DATE: Fri. 11/04/11 11:59 PM Pacific Time

DEFINITION:

Under direction, to plan, organize, coordinate, direct, and monitor the County’s emergency medical services system in order to establish and ensure compliance with the County's protocols, guidelines and contracts for operation of the emergency medical services system and its components. Two Positions Are Currently Vacant:

EMS Specialist: Clinical Quality Management
This position is responsible for the coordination of Santa Clara County Emergency Medical Services System Clinical Quality Assurance and Improvement activities, the County Emergency Medical Services Quality Improvement Plan (EQIP), coordination of clinical protocols and prehospital care reviews, serve as the primary staff to the EMS Medical Director, conduct related training, coordinate clinically focused initiatives, projects, and other duties consistent with the components contained in this announcement. Serves as an EMS Duty Chief.

EMS Specialist: Disaster/Homeland Security
This position is responsible for the coordination of Santa Clara County Emergency Medical Services System disaster preparedness projects, oversight of the Medical Volunteers for Disaster Response program, serves as the EMS Multi-Jurisdictional/Multi-Disciplinary Task Force (CMTF) Coordinator, and other related duties. Serves as an EMS Duty Chief.

Information about the Santa Clara County EMS Agency and the Santa Clara County EMS System may be found at www.sccemsagency.org

This recruitment requires the submission of an online application. No paper applications will be accepted. Applicants must apply online at www.sccjobs.org. Computers are available at the County Government Center, 70 West Hedding Street, 8th Floor, East Wing, San Jose, CA 95110, during normal business hours, for applicants to apply online.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

The Emergency Medical Services Specialist oversees one or more of the Emergency Medical Services Systems, including the prehospital systems. Specific assignments, and the range of duties performed within that assignment vary depending on the type of experience and licensure or certification required.

The Emergency Medical Services Specialist is distinguished from the higher level of Senior Emergency Medical Specialist in that the Senior Emergency Medical Specialist has overall program management responsibility and supervises subordinate professional staff.

TYPICAL TASKS:

(Depending upon area of assignment)

• Coordinates assigned emergency medical services program activities including planning, prioritizing, monitoring and participating in the agency-wide program meetings regarding program activities;

• Oversees and/or participates in the development, implementation and maintenance of program goals, objectives, policies and procedures to ensure achievement of program goals;

• Monitors activities and evaluates performance of emergency medical services providers,

• including EMTs, paramedics, Emergency Medical Dispatchers, Mobile Intensive Care Nurses, EMS Flight crew personnel and other prehospital care providers and equipment identified in the California Health and Safety Code;

• When assigned as Duty Chief, ensures activation and function of entire EMS system and coordination with other County and outside emergency agencies in response to critical incidents or disasters; including maintenance and operation of a Code-3 equipped vehicle;

• Provides administrative and technical direction to assigned program services staff to ensure compliance with various reporting requirements;

• Analyzes program services and evaluates changes and development of assigned health care program needs;

• Researches and applies for program funding sources, such as grants and donations; administers grants to ensure compliance with regulations;

• May prepare and administer annual budget for one or more assigned programs and monitors expenditures;

• Coordinates program activities with agencies, service providers and non-profit services;

• Provides staff assistance and technical support for assigned program activities to other County departments and special interest commissions and committees;

• Conducts organizational and operational service delivery studies and makes recommendations to address and resolve identified service delivery issues;

• Assists hospitals and private and public safety agencies in planning, implementing and maintaining prehospital emergency care programs;

• Establishes comprehensive stakeholder relationships and, assists and advises field and hospital emergency care personnel, communication personnel, medical-health professionals, community-based organizations and the public on matters pertaining to emergency medical service;

• Develops and coordinates the EMS component of disaster medical response and mass casualty incident plans and assists in the development of public health disaster response plans and procedures;

• Responds to, coordinates and manages disaster medical and mass casualty incidents;

• Investigates complaints of suspected violations of emergency medical care standards, policies and protocols, the County’s health and welfare codes and State health and safety codes;

• Makes routine and unannounced inspections of EMS providers, including ambulance providers, paramedic units, base hospitals and trauma hospitals;

• Monitors emergency medical service delivery to ensure medical appropriateness and continuity of patient care;

• Provides regulatory oversight and general assistance to and monitors educational institutions involved in training of emergency prehospital care personnel;

• Participates in organizational and community meetings as necessary;

• Stays current on issues relative to assigned programs and services; responds to and resolves community and organizational inquiries and complaints;

• Establishes effective working relationships with representatives of community organizations, state/local agencies, management and staff, clients and the public;

• Uses specialized software and equipment including electronic emergency management programs and electronic hospital and disaster management systems, electronic patient tracking system, portable and mobile radios, satellite telephones wireless applications and emergency towing vehicle;

• Performs related work as required.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:

Sufficient education, training, and work experience to demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities listed below.

A valid California Class C Driver's License and one of the following:

A valid license to practice as a Registered Nurse in California; OR

A valid license to practice as a paramedic in California; OR

A valid certificate to practice as an Emergency Medical Technician in California.

Experience Note:

The knowledge and abilities are normally acquired through training and experience equivalent to possession of a Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration, Nursing, Public Administration or a related field and three (3) years of increasingly responsible emergency medical services experience. A Master’s degree in one of the disciplines listed above may be substituted for one (1) year of health care experience.

Applicants without a degree should detail additional years of work experience that may be considered.

Special Qualifications for Duty Chief

Must complete Emergency Vehicle Operators/Operations Course (EVOC) within six (6) months of hire; while on Duty Chief assignment must respond to an emergency call within (10) minutes by phone or radio and must be within forty-five (45) minutes of Santa Clara County.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, and practices of prehospital care system management relating to one or more specialized service delivery programs;

• Health care organizational structure and program components;

• Principles and practices of program administration including budgeting, marketing, purchasing, management and program needs forecasting;

• Current legislation and trends affecting health care providers for assigned program areas;

• Program development and evaluation methods and report writing procedures;

• Medical terminology;

• Basic principles, practices and methods of training and evaluation;

• Basic statistical and research methods;

• Basic knowledge of investigative methods and disciplinary processes used within the EMS System.

Ability to:

• Coordinate the activities of a large program or multiple program components;

• Direct the work of others performing service delivery in assigned health care specialty areas;

• Coordinate the assigned health care programs with other health care agencies;

• Formulate, gather, analyze and present financial, informational and statistical data;

• Integrate the activities of a program to attain program goals;

• Analyze, interpret and explain program policies and procedures;

• Elicit community and organizational support for programs;

• Represent SCVHHS on assigned committees and with service providers;

• Understand, apply and implement Federal, State and County codes, ordinances, regulations and approved standards and guidelines for prehospital emergency care;

• Apply the tools of a specialty subject area as appropriate;

• Instruct individuals and groups in prehospital emergency care;

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, various agencies and other County employees;

• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, sometimes under highly stressful conditions.