Paramedic Air/Ground Transport

Overview

The Flight Paramedic is responsible for providing safe, reliable patient care as defined by the Iowa Bureau of Emergency and Trauma Services (BETS) Scope of Practice for the Critical Care Paramedic and as authorized by the LifeGuard Medical Director in both the transport and hospital settings in coordination with the Flight Nurse. The Flight Paramedic collaborates with physicians and other health care providers to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care while demonstrating LifeGuard Standards of Excellence. The Flight Paramedic participates in patient and family teaching and provides leadership by working cooperatively with other health care team members in the transport and hospital setting. Performance of these responsibilities requires specialized knowledge, critical thinking and skills based on principles of psychological, social, physical and biological sciences that utilize an expanded paramedic scope of practice, encompassing the Critical Care Paramedic scope, as set forth by the critical care transport industry and accreditation standards.

Why UnityPoint Health?

• Culture – At UnityPoint Health, you matter. Come for a fulfilling career and experience a culture guided by uncompromising values and unwavering belief in doing what’s right for the people we serve.
• Benefits – Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options like 401K match, paid time off and education assistance that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment – We’re committed to ensuring you have a voice that is heard regardless of role, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
• Development – We believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is an essential part of delivering a remarkable employment experience.
• Community Involvement – Be an essential part of our core purpose—to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.

Hear more from our team members about why UnityPoint Health is a great place to work at https://dayinthelife.unitypoint.org.

Responsibilities

Clinical Excellence/Patient Care

• Performs initial assessment process per specific department standards to include patient history, physical, and psycho-social assessment. Utilizes physical assessment data, diagnostic data (lab, radiology, diagnostic testing), pharmacological information and patient/family perceptions related to focus problem areas and identifying goals of care
• Uses critical thinking in independent judgment and maintains responsibility for knowledge of the patient’s condition.
• Delegate’s patient care appropriately based on clinical assessment and within scope of practice of provider receiving assignment both in transport and hospital settings.
• Assesses needs of patients and families, provides appropriate teaching to facilitate patient/family decision making regarding cares.
• Collaborates with physicians and other health care professionals in planning and implementing care within organizational and department policy and legal limitations
• Uses a holistic approach (considering physical, psychosocial, spiritual, educational, safety and related criteria) appropriate to age in the care of patients and families.
• Consistently delivers high quality, competent care demonstrating knowledge and clinical skills of the specialty in accordance with established policy procedure.
• Assumes responsibility for developing a plan of care that is mutually established with the patient and family. Each patient is treated as an individual, with their identified goals and expectations reviewed each shift to verify priorities. 
• Integrates multidisciplinary approach to maintain comfort, support human functions and responses, and maintain an environment conductive to safety and well-being. Implements measures to promote a safe environment.
• Partners with healthcare team to achieve the patient care outcomes and goals of care.
• Administers medications and treatments within scope of practice according to patient care guidelines.
• Completes documentation in accordance to policy/procedure and compliance with the Iowa Code using the designated EMR platform.
• Practice demonstrates the understanding that crew, workplace and patient safety is a priority by practicing Just Culture, preventing errors, accidents and infections; and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately.
• Responds to emergencies within UnityPoint Health – St. Lukes Hospital as a member of the rapid response (RRT), Medical Emergency/Code and Surge response teams.
• Demonstrates ability to meet the department work schedule.

Development & Patient Education

• Demonstrates professional development by keeping abreast of current Critical Care and transport practices; and healthcare trends.
• Continues professional development and involvement in professional activities that enhance patient care practice by sharing knowledge through networking and research.
• Assess and chooses teaching strategies appropriate to the patient’s and their families’ age specific needs, culture, gender, readiness to learn and level of comprehension.
• Consults appropriate resources within the hospital to provide specialized education.
• Demonstrates knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately.
• Integrates patient/family teaching throughout the hospitalization, including the plan and goals of care, pre- and post-operative procedures, diagnostic procedures, and discharge teaching.
• Integrates preventative health maintenance into the education plan.

Leadership

• Assists in the orientation of new associates by acting as a resource and mentor to associates. Collaborates with unit leadership, serving in a preceptor and/or mentor role, as appropriate.
• Participates in the education experiences of residents, EMS and nursing students.
• Utilizes evidenced based models of learning.
• Balance team and individual responsibilities; be open and objective to other’s views; give and welcome feedback; contribute to positive team goals; and put the success of the team as a priority.
• Integrates and demonstrates LifeGuard Standards of Excellence and the UnityPoint/St. Luke’s mission, vision and values to guide professional behaviors while adhering to the policies and procedures of UnityPoint-St. Luke’s and LifeGuard Air Ambulance.
• Demonstrates collaboration with Emergency Department and other units throughout UnityPoint Health-St. Lukes hospital as needed and requested.
• Engages in work/projects as a contribution to the program that are outside of scheduled shifts.

Compliance

• The associate is aware of hospital and department compliance for federally funded healthcare programs (e.g. Medicare and Medicaid) regarding fraud, waste and abuse. Brings any questions or concerns regarding compliance to the immediate attention of department or hospital administrative staff.
• Knowledgeable of EMTALA regulations as it applies to the transport setting
• Purposefully conducts all aspects of the job in an ethical manner in support of the hospital’s commitment to ethical behavior in all areas of personal and professional activity.
• Successfully completes hospital-wide orientation, annual hospital competencies and department specific competencies.
• Successfully completes annual hearing screening.
• Successfully completes N-95 fit testing as described in OSHA standard: 29 CFR 1910.134
• Reports weight (Personnel weight to include boots, flight suit, and any items routinely carried on one’s person) to Base Aviation Manager monthly.

Qualifications

• Completion of an accredited Paramedic Program
• Critical Care Paramedic (CCP)
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience on a busy 911 paramedic ground ambulance service or related experience.
• Has met fully the requirements of the UPH LifeGuard Recognition of Paramedic License. This supersedes the requirements listed above under experience.
• Valid driver’s license when driving any vehicle for work-related reasons
• Possess current PM licensure in the State of Iowa with Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) endorsement.
• Current BLS, ACLS, PALS.
• Currency of the above will be maintained and is the responsibility of the individual
• Writes, reads, comprehends and speaks fluent English
• Multicultural sensitivity
• Microsoft Office – basic computer skills
• Demonstrates proficiency in the manual skills and techniques required to perform basic/advanced care procedures in the administration of medication therapy and the operation of specialized equipment
• Ability to complete a basic computer course on the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) through in-hospital training
• Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.
• Skills not routinely used in prehospital paramedicine will be trained and competency maintained per hospital standards (ie: nasogastric tube insertion, arterial blood gases).

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