EMS Emergency Call Taker, Per Diem

University Hospital; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital is seeking an EMS Emergency Call Taker to receive and triage emergency and non-emergency calls using MPDS. You will deliver pre-arrival instructions, coordinate EMS resources, and monitor communications to safeguard field operations, reporting to an EMS Communications Supervisor from the central EMS center.

The role requires a high school diploma or GED, 1 year of emergency services and dispatch experience, and NJ certifications (EMD, Basic Telecommunicator) with MPDS and AHA

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 1 year of emergency services experience preferred.
• 1 year of public safety dispatching experience preferred.
• Fire Dispatch certification preferred.
• Must pass medical evaluation and respirator fit test; wear N95 per PEOSHA standards.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Answers and triages emergency and non-emergency calls using MPDS and Fire Service Communications System.
• Gathers and processes essential caller information quickly and accurately.
• Provides pre-arrival and post-dispatch instructions to callers as needed.
• Dispatches and coordinates the response of appropriate EMS resources.
• Monitors radio and phone communications to ensure operational efficiency and responder safety.
• Operates under the supervision of an EMS Communications Supervisor.
• Primarily functions within the EMS communications center, with the ability to assist in the field as required.

Skills

Emergency call handling

Public safety dispatch

Bilingual English/Spanish

Attention to detail

Education

NJ Basic Telecommunicator Certification

NJ Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) Certification

MPDS Certification (within 1 year of hire)

AHA BLS for Healthcare Provider

ICS 100 Certification

NIMS Awareness Certification

Job description

Overview

About the Role

The EMS Emergency Call Taker is responsible for receiving and triaging emergency and non-emergency calls using the Medical Priority Dispatch System and Fire Service Communications System. This role involves collecting critical information, delivering pre-arrival and post-dispatch instructions, and coordinating the deployment of appropriate resources. The Call Taker monitors all communications to ensure efficiency and the safety of field units, operating under the guidance of an EMS Communications Supervisor. This position works primarily in the communications center, but may assist in the field as needed, completing all required documentation and contributing to the smooth operation of EMS services while professionally representing University Hospital and its EMS team.

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

• Answers and triages emergency and non-emergency calls using the Medical Priority Dispatch System and Fire Service Communications System

• Gathers and processes essential caller information quickly and accurately

• Provides pre-arrival and post-dispatch instructions to callers as needed

• Dispatches and coordinates the response of appropriate EMS resources

• Monitors radio and phone communications to ensure operational efficiency and responder safety

• Operates under the supervision of an EMS Communications Supervisor

• Primarily functions within the EMS communications center, with the ability to assist in the field as required

Qualifications

What You’ll Bring

Required:

• 
  

  • High school diploma or GED required

  • One (1) year of emergency services experience preferred

  • One (1) year of public safety dispatching experience preferred

  • Fire Dispatch certification preferred

  • Must pass a medical evaluation and respirator fit test, and be able to wear an N95 mask in compliance with PEOSHA standards

  • Bilingual English/Spanish skills preferred

• Required Credentials (must be current and in good standing):

  • NJ Basic Telecommunicator Certification

  • NJ Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) Certification

  • Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) Certification (must be obtained within 1 year of hire)

  • American Heart Association (AHA) BLS for the Healthcare Provider

  • Incident Command System (ICS) Level 100 Certification

  • National Incident Management System (NIMS) Awareness Certification

Compensation (NJ Job Transparency Law)

The expected salary range for this position is $22.36 per hour, in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Law; final compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

About Us

University Hospital is one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. As the principal teaching affiliate of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the only state-certified Level 1 Trauma Center in Northern New Jersey, University Hospital is training the next generation of physicians and advancing science to discovery while taking exceptional care of patients, regardless of their financial situation.