MEDCOM Emergency Communication Specialist

The Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Generous Paid Time Off

Retirement Savings

Long-term and Short-term Disability

Health Saving Plans and Flexible Spend

Job summary

The University of Virginia Health System MEDCOM emergency communications center seeks an Emergency Communications Specialist to coordinate emergency resources, support life-saving care, and serve as the central hub for transport and response operations across UVA Health.

You will operate in a 24/7 center that connects Emergency Departments, Trauma Services, Stroke Teams, EMS agencies, and flight crews, ensuring timely, accurate information and seamless coordination to deliver the right care at

Qualifications

• Experience in emergency response or emergency communications required.
• Successful completion of on-the-job training required.
• EMT certification within one year of hire required.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating and dispatching critical emergency resources, including air and ground transport teams and ambulance services.
• Receiving EMS patient reports and facilitating communication between field providers and hospital teams.
• Supporting activation of trauma, stroke, and STEMI pathways.
• Managing incoming air medical traffic, helipad assignments, and aircraft coordination.
• Serving as a communication resource during emergencies and hospital activation events.
• Evaluating complex and non-routine situations while applying protocols.
• Providing guidance to less experienced team members.
• Acting as a central communication point connecting Emergency Departments, Trauma Services, Stroke Teams, Emergency Management, EMS agencies, transport teams, and community healthcare organizations.
• Maintaining clear, accurate, and timely communications in a high-volume, mission-critical environment.

Skills

Emergency response

Emergency communications

On-the-job training

Education

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification

Advanced EMT certification

BLS CPR certification

Job description

Every critical patient transport, trauma activation, stroke alert, and emergency response depends on seamless communication. As an Emergency Communications Specialist, you will serve as a vital operational link connecting clinical teams, emergency responders, transport services, and healthcare partners across UVA Health's expansive regional network.

This highly visible role places you at the center of mission-critical healthcare operations. Working within MEDCOM, UVA Health's healthcare-focused emergency communications center, you will coordinate emergency resources, support life-saving care delivery, and help ensure patients receive the right level of care at the right time.

The Role

As an Emergency Communication Specialist, you will operate within a 24/7 emergency communications center that serves as the central hub for emergency transport and response operations across UVA Health. This is a fast-paced environment where critical thinking, situational awareness, and strong communication skills are essential.

In an average shift, you may coordinate emergency transports, support emergency department communications, facilitate aviation operations, and assist with emergency management activities. No two days are the same, and every interaction contributes to patient care and operational excellence.

Key responsibilities include:

• Coordinating and dispatching critical emergency resources, including Pegasus Air, Pegasus Ground critical care transport teams, ambulance services, and specialized response teams.
• Receiving EMS patient reports and facilitating communication between field providers and hospital teams.
• Supporting activation of trauma, stroke, and STEMI response pathways.
• Managing incoming air medical traffic, helipad assignments, and aircraft coordination activities.
• Serving as a communication resource during emergency incidents and hospital activation events.
• Evaluating complex and non-routine situations while applying established protocols and operational procedures.
• Providing guidance and support to less experienced team members.
• Acting as a central communication point connecting Emergency Departments, Trauma Services, Stroke Teams, Emergency Management, EMS agencies, transport teams, and community healthcare organizations.
• Maintaining clear, accurate, and timely communications in a high-volume, mission-critical environment.

This position is ideal for professionals who thrive under pressure, enjoy problem-solving, and want to play a meaningful role in emergency healthcare operations.

Why UVA Health

At UVA Health, you'll join one of the nation's leading academic health systems while contributing to a department that has a direct impact on patient outcomes, emergency response readiness, and critical care coordination throughout the region.

MEDCOM offers a unique career opportunity that blends emergency medicine, public safety communications, air medical operations, emergency management, and transport coordination into a single role. Team members are trusted partners in some of the health system's most important and time-sensitive operations.

Highlights of the opportunity include:

• Direct involvement in trauma, stroke, STEMI, and critical care transport operations.
• A role at the center of UVA Health's emergency communications and response infrastructure.
• Opportunities to collaborate with physicians, nurses, EMS professionals, flight crews, emergency managers, and regional healthcare partners.
• Exposure to a broad range of emergency and critical care situations that support ongoing professional growth.
• A dynamic environment where your decisions and communication skills directly influence patient care and operational success.
• The stability, resources, and professional development opportunities associated with a nationally recognized academic medical center.
• Recent compensation enhancements reflecting the importance and complexity of this specialized work.

For professionals with emergency communications, EMS, public safety dispatch, or emergency management experience, this role offers a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful impact behind the scenes of life-saving care every day.

Why People Love Living in Charlottesville

Charlottesville offers an exceptional quality of life with the perfect balance of professional opportunity and personal fulfillment. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the area provides easy access to hiking, cycling, wineries, and outdoor recreation while also offering a vibrant downtown scene filled with locally owned restaurants, arts, music, and cultural attractions. Residents enjoy excellent schools, a strong sense of community, and the advantages of living in a region that combines the amenities of a larger metropolitan area with the charm and pace of a smaller city. For healthcare professionals and their families, Charlottesville is consistently recognized as one of Virginia's most desirable places to live and work.

Position Levels & Minimum Qualifications

This position is posted as a career ladder with two levels: Emergency Communications Specialist I and Emergency Communications Specialist II.

Emergency Communications Specialist I (ECS I)

Starting Pay: $20.00 per hour

Minimum Requirements

• High School Graduate or Equivalent required.
• Previous experience in emergency response or emergency communications required.
• Successful completion of on-the-job training required.
• In lieu of EMT certification, five years of dispatching experience in a 911 or emergency communications center may be considered.

Licensure/Certification

• Certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in the Commonwealth of Virginia required within one year of hire.
• American Heart Association (AHA) Health Care Provider BLS CPR certification required.
• Must obtain Advanced EMT certification or higher within four years of hire.

Emergency Communications Specialist II (ECS II)

Starting Pay: $23.00 per hour

Minimum Requirements

• High School Graduate or Equivalent required.
• Experience in emergency response or emergency communications required.
• Successful completion of on-the-job training required.

Licensure/Certification

• Certification as an Advanced EMT or higher in the Commonwealth of Virginia required.
• American Heart Association (AHA) Health Care Provider BLS CPR certification required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Job requires sitting for prolonged periods, frequently typing/traveling and multi-tasking activities. Proficient communicative, auditory and visual skills; Attention to detail and ability to write legibly; Ability to lift/push/pull > 20lbs. May be exposed to fumes, heat, noise, High-stress environment and environment prone to high-capacity sensory stimulation.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Retirement Savings
• Long-term and Short-term Disability
• Health Saving Plans, and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Certification and Education Support

UVA Health is a world-class Magnet Recognized academic medical center and health system with a level 1 trauma center. 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" guide rates UVA Health University Medical Center as "High Performing" in 5 adult specialties and 14 conditions/procedures. We are one of 70 National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers. UVA Health Children's is named by 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report as the best children's hospital in Virginia with 9 specialties ranked among the best in the nation. Our footprint also encompasses 3 community hospitals and an integrated network of primary and specialty care clinics throughout Charlottesville, Culpeper, Northern Virginia, and beyond.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.