Community EMT – Basic

We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that is representative of our diverse community. Applicants with equivalent experience and/or education should apply.

Our hiring managers begin reviewing applications after the Job Posting End Date (see below) and will begin contacting applicants soon after that date. Thank you for your patience as we give each application the time and attention that it deserves.

Job Title:  Community EMT – Basic

Department: Emergency Services

Hiring Range: $18.05 – $19.86

Posted Internally and Externally

Job Posting End Date: October 19, 2022

Buncombe County is hiring four (4) grant-funded Community EMTs. These full-time positions are funded entirely or partially by an outside grant. Grant-funded Employees are considered temporary, at-will-employees as defined in the County’s Personnel Ordinance. Individuals in this position will be eligible for

Eligible to earn leave as set forth in Article VI of the County’s Personnel Ordinance from the date of hire. This does not include the annual Cost of Living Increase (CPI/COLA).
Eligible for Group Health Insurance, Group Dental Insurance, Vision Hardware and Flexible Spending Account Benefits. These benefits become effective the first day of the month following the start date.
Eligible to become a member in the North Carolina Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System upon date of hire.

Purpose of the position:

The primary purpose of this position is to work within the Community Paramedic Outreach Team to provide basic emergency medical care, triage, transportation, and coordination of wrap around services when case management is necessary.

Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire):

Graduation from high school or equivalent.  Have a minimum of 3 years’ experience as an EMT. Must be 18 years of age or older.

Additional Training and Experience: Experience working with communities experiencing homelessness, SUD, or mental health crisis. Must be willing to attend trainings in psychiatric care and de-escalation, training in resiliency and trauma informed care, trainings in case management, and other community trainings outside of traditional EMT-Basic scope. Bilingual preferred.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation:  As a condition of employment, must be credentialed as an Emergency Medical Technician by the North Carolina Office of EMS. Possession of a valid driver’s license issued by the state of residence.

Essential Functions of the position:

• Provides support to other outreach team members and Community Paramedic team(s) during specific/peak hours by coordinating wrap around outreach services, medical assessment, community member welfare checks, follow up appointments for clients, client referrals, and client transport when needed.
• Works within outreach team to identify communities or neighborhoods with high need for low barrier health care and safe access to resources.
• Develops outreach workflow and networks with stakeholder groups to establish needs in the community and ways to address those needs.
  Provides support to Buncombe County businesses and property managers for non-emergent medical needs.
• Works with non-EMS outreach team members and external health care organizations to provide care in overlapping locations or communities.
• Maintain readiness and serve as a mobile medical unit driver or attendant responding to routine and emergency medical calls, perform necessary rescue work and administer necessary emergency medical care to patients in the field.  Perform interventions with the basic equipment typically found on outreach ambulance van. Administer medicine to patients while in route to hospital; perform pulmonary ventilation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and any other procedure or skill as outlined by state and local medical control.
• Collect, communicate, and accurately document information about the medical emergency to further quality patient care; deliver complete and timely report to hospital staff and assure patient privacy.
• Respond to non-emergency calls such as requests to transport patients from hospitals to their homes or from a local medical facility to a specialized medical center.  Transport deceased humans to the morgue or appropriate facility.
• Prepare incident reports and maintain records on patients treated.
• Assist in the inspection and maintenance of vehicles and equipment used in emergency medical service. Test and maintain medical equipment standard to advanced life support ambulances. Participate in the maintenance of station equipment and quarters.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Abilities:

• Proficient in the County’s case management and care coordination system.
• Provides culturally aligned care to vulnerable populations
• Understanding of MAT and BC MAT protocols and knowledge of emergency medical procedures and techniques.
• Applies fundamental knowledge to provide basic emergency care and transportation based on assessment findings for an acutely ill patient.
• Applies fundamental knowledge of the EMS system, safety/well-being of the EMT, medical/legal and ethical issues to the provision of emergency care.
• Working knowledge of equipment and supplies employed in the emergency care of patients and victims of accidents.
• Expected to stay current with all EMT training to improve competency in medical technical work and ambulance service/operation to maintain certification.
• Working knowledge of County geography and of the location of roads and streets within the County and to safely drive an ambulance occasionally at high rates of speed.
• Working knowledge of procedures in extrication, movement of patients, rescue techniques, transportation, and psychological needs of a patient.
• Ability to respond quickly and calmly to emergency situations.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to deal tactfully, courteously, and firmly with the public.

In order to uphold internal pay parity and equity, salaries are non-negotiable for new and current Buncombe County employees. All new employees are paid according to their years of relevant education and experience above minimum requirements for the position and employees have the opportunity to obtain pay increases via cost of living increases and promotions.

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee’s unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. In addition, Buncombe County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.

Applicants for employment are invited to participate in the affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority. In extending this invitation, we advise you that: (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose; (b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information to include in our affirmative action program. We are a company that values diversity. We actively encourage women, minorities, veterans and disabled employees to apply. Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment.