Interesting PA EMS job

[fakingpatience]

I saw this job (searching for paramedic jobs), it looks really interesting!  Sounds like Littleton plans on using PAs for a community paramedicine type program.  Has anyone heard of any similar programs?  I wonder how well it would work in practice

 

http://agency.governmentjobs.com/littletonco/default.cfm?action=viewJob&jobID=876816

[ventana]

Job Title: Physician Assistant Closing Date/Time: Sun. 05/25/14 11:59 PM Mountain Time Salary: $60.00 Hourly
$4,800.00 Biweekly Job Type: Temporary Location: City Hall, 2255 W Berry Ave, Littleton, Colorado  

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Description  Benefits  Supplemental Questions

 

Performs paramedic and emergency medical and rescue work in emergency and non-emergent situations. Provides advanced and basic life support care under LFR Medical Director’s approved protocols and statutes. The PA works closely with hospital staff and allied health professionals.

This position is 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 1 day per week Monday thru Friday.
   Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Contributes to physician's effectiveness by identifying short-term and long-range patient care issues that must be addressed; providing information and commentary pertinent to deliberations; recommending options and courses of action; implementing physician directives.
• Assesses patient health by interviewing patients; performing physical examinations; obtaining, updating, and studying medical histories.
• Determines abnormal conditions by administering or ordering diagnostic tests, such as x-rays, electrocardiograms, and laboratory studies; interpreting test results.
• Documents patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
• Performs therapeutic procedures by administering injections and immunizations; suturing; managing wounds and infections.
• Instructs and counsels patients by describing therapeutic regimens; giving normal growth and development information; discussing family planning; providing counseling on emotional problems of daily living; promoting wellness and health maintenance.
• Provides continuity of care by developing and implementing patient management plans.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Complies with federal, state, and local legal and professional requirements by studying existing and new legislation; anticipating future legislation; enforcing adherence to requirements; advising management on needed actions.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Develops health care team staff by providing information, educational opportunities, and experiential growth opportunities.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• Utilizes advanced, competency based, knowledge, skills and abilities to provide options for alternative disposition and destinations.
• Coordinates and participates, with the Paramedic in scheduling of patient follow ups.
• Maintains records; schedules resources; and prepares verbal and written reports regarding operational issues to the EMS Captain. 
• Consults with private physicians and other allied health professionals to formulate care plans.
• Provides education to community organizations and citizens pertaining to treatment capabilities and alternative destination decisions.
• May address/investigate complaints that are received from patients and/or family members. May address/investigate complaints that arise from interagency or intra-agency personnel.
• Works with EMS Supervisors to determine EMS skill gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Maintains apparatus, vehicles and equipment. 
• Works with the EMS Division Chief and EMS Captain to compile data and other necessary information to create budget and regular agency reports.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS / SUPERVISORY DUTIES

This Position Reports to:  EMS Medical Director
 

 Education, Formal Training & Experience:

• Must be a Physician Assistant with a minimum of 3 years clinical experience
• Must currently be Licensed thru the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.  (DORA)
• Must hold a current and active DEA license.
• Pre hospital experience preferred.

 Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Working Environment:

• Must have strong communication skills, both verbal and written, and the ability to interact well with staff, employees, citizens, allied health professionals and members of other departments.
• Requires solid knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of pre-hospital patient care; emergency communications systems; and management information services as they apply to the fire service and records management.
• Requires the ability to perform emergency services tasks in a variety of environmental conditions to include the ability to operate all communications equipment, assigned medical and equipment.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT DIRECTLY USED
• Responsible for working knowledge and operation of all lab analysis equipment.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
• Physical requirements include the performance of hazardous tasks requiring strenuous exertion during, rescue and emergency situations in a variety of weather conditions.
• Physical activities include:  carrying medical bags and frequesnt stooping, kneeling, and crouching. 
• Mental abilities required to perform the job functions include the following: alertness, precision, ingenuity, problem solving, analytic ability, spatial perception, persuasiveness, auditory discrimination, tactile discrimination, speaking ability, memory, creativity, concentration, judgment, aesthetic sense, olfactory discrimination, writing ability, reasoning, imagination, initiative, patience and visual discrimination. 
• The work is performed both indoors in a fire station environment and outdoors in widely-varying and often extreme environmental conditions. The work includes exposure to: extreme heat and cold, with and without temperature changes; exposure to water, snow, ice, hail and freezing conditions; potential exposure to contagious diseases and body fluids.

 

[KMD16]

In a recent EM journal that I read. Physician are also being utilize in similar fashion. Sound like a new gig in town.

[treejay]

this idea has been floating around for awhile and various jurisdictions are starting these programs or already doing it.  I heard something in Dallas is brewing along these similar lines

[GetMeOuttaThisMess]

News to me if that's the case. I've never heard DFR acknowledge the existence of PAs. It has been discussed in years past at the UTSW sponsored Eagles conference but only along the lines of an advanced paramedic to my knowledge. I mentioned during a recent Parkland interview my concurrent EMS interest and the ED med director didn't bat an eye.

 

I brought up a similar scenario via email with the Asst. Chief with my local FD who recently went to non-MICU, but Suburban paramedic responses to non-life threatening calls, suggesting opportunities for non-transport follow ups with someone such as ourselves with charges being billed through the medical control EM group. It went right over their head, and they've been represented at the local conference referenced above.

[medic25]

Too bad my older kids aren't done with high school yet; I'd have already filled out the application!