Functional Job Analysis 

Emergency Medical Technician -Basic

Responds to emergency calls to provide efficient and immediate care to the critically ill and injured, and transports the patient to a medical facility.

After receiving the call from the dispatcher, drives the ambulance to address or location given, using the most expeditious route, depending on traffic and weather conditions. Observes traffic ordinances and regulations concerning emergency vehicle operation.

Upon arrival at the scene of crash or illness, parks the ambulance in a safe location to avoid additional injury. Prior to initiating patient care, the EMT-Basic will also 'size-up' the scene to determine that the scene is safe, the mechanism of injury or nature of illness, total number of patients and to request additional help if necessary. In the absence of law enforcement, creates a safe traffic environment, such as the placement of road flares, removal of debris, and re-direction of traffic for the protection of the injured and those assisting in the care of injured patients.

Determines the nature and extent of illness or injury and establishes priority for required emergency care. Based on assessment findings, renders emergency medical care to adult, infant and child, medical and trauma patients. Duties include but are not limited to, opening and maintaining an airway, ventilating patients, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including use of automated external defibrillators. Provide prehospital emergency medical care of simple and multiple system trauma such as controlling hemorrhage, treatment of shock (hypo perfusion), bandaging wounds, and immobilization of painful, swollen, deformed extremities. Medical patients include: Assisting in childbirth, management of respiratory, cardiac, diabetic, allergic, behavioral, and environmental emergencies, and suspected poisonings. Searches for medical identification emblem as a clue in providing emergency care. Additional care is provided based upon assessment of the patient and obtaining historical information. These interventions include assisting patients with prescribed medications, including sublingual nitroglycerin, epinephrine auto-injectors and hand-held aerosol inhalers. The EMT-Basic will also be responsible for administration of oxygen, oral glucose and activated charcoal.

Reassures patients and bystanders by working in a confident, efficient manner. Avoids mishandling and undue haste while working expeditiously to accomplish the task.

Where a patient must be extricated from entrapment, assesses the extent of injury and gives all possible emergency care and protection to the entrapped patient and uses the prescribed techniques and appliances for safely removing the patient. If needed, radios the dispatcher for additional help or special rescue and/or utility services. Provides simple rescue service if the ambulance has not been accompanied by a specialized unit. After extrication, provides additional care in triaging the injured in accordance with standard emergency procedures.

Complies with regulations on the handling of the deceased, notifies authorities, and arranges for protection of property and evidence at scene.

Lifts stretcher, placing in ambulance and seeing that the patient and stretcher are secured, continues emergency medical care.

From the knowledge of the condition of the patient and the extent of injuries and the relative locations and staffing of emergency hospital facilities, determines the most appropriate facility to which the patient will be transported, unless otherwise directed by medical direction. Reports directly to the emergency department or communications center the nature and extent of injuries, the number being transported, and the destination to assure prompt medical care on arrival. Identifies assessment findings, which may require communications with medical direction for advice and for notification that special professional services and assistance be immediately available upon arrival at the medical facility.

Constantly assesses patient en route to emergency facility, administers additional care as indicated or directed by medical direction.

Assists in lifting and carrying the patient out of the ambulance and into the receiving facility.

Reports verbally and in writing their observation and emergency medical care of the patient at the emergency scene and in transit to the receiving facility staff for purposes of records and diagnostics. Upon request, provides assistance to the receiving facility staff.

After each call, restocks and replaces used linens, blankets and other supplies, cleans all equipment following appropriate disinfecting procedures, makes careful check of all equipment so that the ambulance is ready for the next run. Maintains ambulance in efficient operating condition. Ensures that the ambulance is clean and washed and kept in a neat orderly condition. In accordance with local, state or federal regulations, decontaminates the interior of the vehicle after transport of patient with contagious infection or hazardous materials exposure.

Determines that vehicle is in proper mechanical condition by checking items required by service management. Maintains familiarity with specialized equipment used by the service.

Attends continuing education and refresher training programs as required by employers, medical direction, licensing or certifying agencies.

Functional Job Analysis  

Paramedic Characteristics

The Paramedic must be a confident leader who can accept the challenge and high degree of responsibility entailed in the position. The Paramedic must have excellent judgment and be able to prioritize decisions and act quickly in the best interest of the patient, must be self disciplined, able to develop patient rapport, interview hostile patients, maintain safe distance, and recognize and utilize communication unique to diverse multicultural groups and ages within those groups. Must be able to function independently at optimum level in a non-structured environment that is constantly changing.

Even though the Paramedic is generally part of a two-person team generally working with a lower skill and knowledge level Basic EMT, it is the Paramedic who is held responsible for safe and therapeutic administration of drug including narcotics. Therefore, the Paramedic must not only be knowledge about medications but must be able to apply this knowledge in a practical sense. Knowledge and practical application of medications include thoroughly knowing and understanding the general properties of all types of drugs including analgesics, anesthetics, anti-anxiety drugs, sedatives and hypnotics, anti-convulsants, central nervous stimulants, psychotherapeutics which include antidepressants, and other anti-psychotics, anticholerginics, cholergenics, muscle relaxants, anti-dysrythmics, anti-hypertensives, anticoagulants, diuretics, bronchodilators, opthalmics, pituitary drugs, gastro-intestinal drugs, hormones, antibiotics, antifungals, antiinflammatories, serums, vaccines, anti-parasitics, and others.

The Paramedic is personally responsible, legally, ethically and morally for each drug administered, for using correct precautions and techniques, observing and documenting the effects of the drugs administered, keeping one' own pharmacological knowledge-base current as to changes and trends in administration and use, keeping abreast of all contraindications to administration of specific drugs to patients based on their constitutional make-up, and using drug reference literature.

The responsibility of the Paramedic includes obtaining a comprehensive drug history from the patient that includes name of drugs, strength, daily usage and dosage. The paramedic must take into consideration that many factors, in relation to the history given, can affect the type medication to be given. For example, some patients may be taking several medications prescribed by several different doctors and some may lose track of what they have or have not taken. Some may be using

non-prescription/over the counter drug. Awareness of drug reactions and the synergistic effects of drugs combined with other medicines and in some instances, food, is imperative. The paramedic must also take into consideration the possible risks of medication administered to a pregnant mother and the fetus; keeping in mind that drugs may cross the placenta.

The Paramedic must be cognizant of the impact of medications on pediatric patients based on size and weight, special concerns related to newborns, geriatric patients and the physiological effects of aging such as the way skin can tear in the geriatric population with relatively little to no pressure. There must be an awareness of the high abuse potential of controlled substances and the potential for addiction, therefore, the Paramedic must be thorough in report writing and able to justify why a particular narcotic was used and why a particular amount was given. The ability to measure and re-measure drip rates for controlled substances/medications is essential. Once medication is stopped or not used, the Paramedic must send back unused portions to proper inventory arena.

The Paramedic must be able to apply basic principles of mathematics to the calculation of problems associated with medication dosages, perform conversion problems, differentiate temperature reading between centigrade and Fahrenheit scales, be able to use proper advanced life support equipment and supplies ( i.e. proper size of intravenous needles ) based on patient' s age and condition of veins, and be able to locate sites for obtaining blood samples and perform this task, administer medication intravenously, administer medications by gastric tube, administer oral medications, administer rectal medications, and comply with universal pre-cautions and body substance isolation, disposing of contaminated items and equipment properly.

The paramedic must be able to apply knowledge and skills to assist overdosed patients to overcome trauma through antidotes, and have knowledge of poisons and be able to administer treatment. The paramedic must be knowledgeable as to the stages drugs/medications go through once they have entered the patient's system and be cognizant that route of administration is critical in relation to patient's needs and the effect that occurs.

The Paramedic must also be capable of providing advanced life support emergency medical services to patients including conducting of and interpreting electrocardiograms (EKGs), electrical interventions to support the cardiac functions, performing advanced endotracheal intubations in airway management and relief of pneumothorax and administering of appropriate intravenous fluids and drugs under direction of off-site designated physician.

The Paramedic is a person who must not only remain calm while working in difficult and stressful circumstances, but must be capable of staying focus while assuming the leadership role inherent in carrying out the functions of the position. Good judgment along with advanced knowledge and technical skills are essential in directing other team members to assist as needed. The Paramedic must be able to provide top quality care, concurrently handle high levels of stress, and be willing to take on the personal responsibility required of the position. This includes not only all legal ramifications for precise documentation, but also the responsibility for using the knowledge and skills acquired in real life threatening emergency situations.

The Paramedic must be able to deal with adverse and often dangerous situations which include responding to calls in districts known to have high crime and mortality rates. Self-confidence is critical, as is a desire to work with people, solid emotional stability, a tolerance for high stress, and the ability to meet the physical, intellectual, and cognitive requirements demanded by this position.

Physical Demands

Aptitudes required for work of this nature are good physical stamina, endurance, and body condition that would not be adversely affected by frequently having to walk, stand, lift, carry, and balance at times, in excess of 125 pounds. Motor coordination is necessary because over uneven terrain, the patient's, the Paramedic's and other worker's well being must not be jeopardized.

Comments

The Paramedic provides the most extensive pre-hospital care and may work for fire departments, private ambulance services, police departments or hospitals. Response times for nature of work are dependent upon nature of call. For example, a Paramedic working for a private ambulance service that transports the elderly from nursing homes to routine medical appointments and checkups may endure somewhat less stressful circumstances than the Paramedic who works primarily with 911 calls in a districts known to have high crime rates. Thus, the particular stresses inherent in the role of the Paramedic can vary, depending on place and type of employment.

However, in general, in the analyst's opinion, the Paramedic must be flexible to meet the demands of the ever-changing emergency scene. When emergencies exist, the situation can be complex and care of the patient must be started immediately. In essence, the Paramedic in the EMS system uses advanced training and equipment to extend emergency physician services to the ambulance.

The Paramedic must be able to make accurate independent judgments while following oral directives. The ability to perform duties in a timely manner is essential, as it could mean the difference between life and death for the patient.

Use of the telephone or radio dispatch for coordination of prompt emergency services is required, as is a pager, depending on place of employment. Accurately discerning street names through map reading, and correctly distinguishing house numbers or business addresses are essential to task completion in the most expedient manner. Concisely and accurately describing orally to dispatcher and other concerned staff, one's impression of patient's condition, is critical as the Paramedic works in emergency conditions where there may not be time for deliberation. The Paramedic must also be able to accurately report orally and in writing, all relevant patient data. At times, Reporting may require a detailed narrative on extenuating circumstances or conditions that go beyond what is required on a prescribed form. In some instances, the Paramedic must enter data on computer from a laptop in ambulance. Verbal skills and reasoning skills are used extensively.

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Qualifications

Must be at least 18 years of age and be a high school graduate or equivalent. Must have proof of valid driver's license. Ability to communicate verbally; via telephone and radio equipment; able to life, carry, and balance up to 125 pounds ( 250 with assistance); ability to interpret and respond to written, oral and diagnostic form instructions; ability to use good judgment and remain calm in high stress situation and take on role of 'leader'.

Must have the ability to read road maps; drive vehicle, accurately discern street signs and address numbers read medication/prescription labels and direction for usage in quick, accurate, and expedient manner, ability to communication verbally with patients and significant others in diverse cultural and age groups to interview patient, family members, and bystanders, and ability to discern deviations/changes in eye/skin coloration due to patient's condition and to the treatment given. Must be able to document, in writing, all relevant information in prescribed format in light of legal ramifications of such; ability to converse with dispatcher and EMS providers via phone or radio as to status of patient.

Good manual dexterity with ability to perform all tasks related to advanced emergency patient care and documentation. Ability to bend, stoop, balance, and crawl on uneven terrain; and the ability to withstand varied environmental conditions such as extreme heat, cold, and moisture. Ability to perform quickly, precise, practical mathematical calculations pertinent to ratio and proportion of medication and supplies used in emergency patient care. Must be independent, confident, able to work independently without defined structure, have good stable reasoning ability with ability to draw valid conclusions expediently relevant to patient's condition, often, using limited information. Must have knowledge and skills relevant to position and be able to implement them in stressful situations, Must be cognizant of all legal, ethical, and moral obligations inherent within scope of practice.

Must be able to perform mathematical calculations/ratios and apply them in expedient, practical manner. Must be independent, confident, able to work independently without structure, have good stable reasoning ability and able to draw valid conclusions quickly relevant to patient's condition, often, using limited information. Must have knowledge and skills relevant to position and be able to implement them in practical fashion in stressful situations. Must be cognizant of all legal, ethical, and moral obligations inherent with out scope of practice.

Must have successful completion of approved curriculum with achievement of passing scores on written and practical certification examinations as defined by programmatic guidelines. Re-certification is dependent upon an individual's successful completion of inter-agency approved Paramedic continuing education refresher courses. At any given time, performs any or all tasks performed by a lower level EMT. May supervise activities of students or interns, and/or may engage in writing of journal articles or teach. Meets qualifications within the functional job analysis.