Job Summary
Assists nursing/medical staff in providing patient care activities and related services necessary to care for the health needs of patients in the Emergency Room. Tasks include physical examinations, routine tests, and administration of IV fluids in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures.
Key Responsibilities
- Provides timely intervention to deliver medical care to patients within emergency and urgent care areas.
- Prepares patients for examination, ensures equipment availability, observes restraints and forensic policies, schedules diagnostic laboratory and radiological tests, transports patients safely, and maintains inventory of patient belongings.
- Records patient vital signs, prepares and forwards specimens, delivers activities of daily living (hygiene, nutrition, elimination, progressive activity), maintains records of fluid intake/output, and provides comfort measures.
- Observes and reports patient responses to interventions, completes documentation in a timely manner, and provides one‑on‑one observation for patients requiring close monitoring.
- Communicates unit activities, needs, and problems to appropriate staff, follows up with patients as required, and demonstrates knowledge and clinical competency in caring for age‑specific patient needs.
- Provides immediate response and crisis intervention during emergency situations; collaborates with hospital, security, forensic and law‑enforcement officials to maintain a safe environment.
- Demonstrates IV therapy skills: assesses fluid and electrolyte balance, initiates peripheral IV therapy, administers parenteral fluids, monitors complications, sets up and maintains IV equipment, discontinues IV therapy, and follows infection‑control principles.
- Performs diagnostic EKGs: informs patients, attaches electrodes, administers examinations, observes tracings, reports abnormalities, and documents procedures accurately.
- Performs phlebotomy functions efficiently: venipuncture, skin puncture, collects specimens (venous, capillary, micro), reassures anxious patients, and prepares specimens for laboratory transport.
- Interacts and communicates in a courteous manner, in compliance with iRESPECT standards, to promote patient/customer satisfaction and coordinate care activities.
- Completes clerical duties including answering telephone, responding to call signals, filing/assembling charts, transcribing orders, and scheduling tests.
- Prepares and maintains required records, reports, and files for administrative and compliance purposes; documents patient status and care given, and utilizes patient computer systems.
- Lifts, positions, and transports patients using proper technique and equipment, and accompanies patients for clinical tests or procedures in other departments.
- Maintains confidentiality of patient and family information, adheres to HIPAA, institutional confidentiality, and compliance policies.
- Responds appropriately to emergency situations and notifies appropriate personnel.
- Completes required continuous training and education, including department‑specific requirements; attends staff meetings, mandatory in‑service, and continuing education as needed.
- Assists with maintenance of department equipment, supplies, and patient care areas, and reports equipment malfunctions to supervisor.
- Maintains a clean, orderly, safe environment in accordance with policies, compliance, quality‑improvement, patient‑safety, environmental, and infection‑control standards.
- Provides coverage for relief and absences as required.
Physical Demands
Ability to stand, walk, sit, lift, carry, push, pull, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, handle, grasp, feel, talk, and hear as required for the duties of this position.
Qualifications
- High School graduate or equivalent. Successful completion of one of the following: approved EMT program with IV course, Advanced EMT program, or Paramedic program.
- Qualified by education, training, or experience to work with adolescent, adult, and/or geriatric patient populations, as a specialty assignment dictates.
Experience
- Minimum six (6) months of EMT or EMT‑P (Paramedic) experience.
- Must successfully complete unit‑specific competency.