County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under the direction of the Division Chief overseeing the Emergency Medical Services Division, incumbents of this position plan, coordinate, implement and monitor the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Quality Improvement (QI) plan for Fire Department Paramedics, Dispatchers, and EMTs providing emergency medical care; and perform related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The incumbent of this classification will oversee the development, delivery and evaluation of the department’s EMS Quality Improvement Program and related activities presented to department personnel and dispatchers providing services for the Fire Department. The scope of responsibility is limited to the EMS program for the Alameda County Fire Department.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Develops and implements consistent standards and practices related to emergency medical operations.
2. Conducts patient care analysis using the department automated Patient Care Reporting System.
3. Develops lesson plans using standardized software programs and conducts multiple repetitive EMS courses during a training cycle.
4. Manages the development, implementation, and evaluation of ACFD’s overall quality improvement program to identify trends, prioritize and recommend EMS operational improvements and coordinates annual training curriculums.
5. Ensures department compliance with Alameda County EMS Agency policies and State EMS statutes and regulations.
6. Participates and represents ACFD in monthly, and quarterly local EMS Agency meetings.  
7. Ensures that Paramedics, EMTs and Emergency Medical Dispatchers are maintaining certifications, licenses, accreditations and are performing required patient care benchmark skills.
8. May assist with oversight of Emergency Medical Dispatch.
9. Coordinates investigations of EMS related complaints and unusual occurrences.
10. Acts as liaison to Alameda County EMS Agency Medical Director on clinical issues.
11. Reviews existing operations and recommends and implements new/changed policies and procedures in response to changing departmental and organizational needs.
12. Rides with paramedics and EMTs on department apparatus and observes performance during actual responses.  
13. Administers Advance Placement exams and specified training programs for new paramedics.
14. Develops, administers, and implements relevant ambulance transport policies.
15. Provides oversight and quality improvement duties to analyze current transport ambulance policies and processes to ensure employee compliance.
16. Working knowledge of California Ambulance Accreditation Standards.
17. Develops, revises, implements, and oversees PIP (personal improvement plans) for employees; assists with remediation, education and counseling as needed.
18. Acts as the HIPAA Privacy officer who monitors compliance with the privacy program, reviews record requests and approved record release upon requests, development, implementation, and maintenance of policies and procedures.
19. Other duties include: evaluating EMS data, identifying methods of providing effective emergency medical care, identifying methods to correct complex medical issues in patient care delivery situations, and designing quality assurance programs to measure program outcome and effectiveness.
20. Serves as the Designated Infection Control Officer who coordinates with hospitals and other agencies regarding exposure data and to request necessary contagious disease testing of transport patients in conformance with Federal and State Law, determines severity of exposure and directs appropriate medical treatment and follow-up, interviews and counsels exposed employees.
21. Develops and regularly revises the Department’s departmental exposure control and infection control plan, as well as policies and protocol for infectious disease exposures, reports changes to plans and policies to stakeholders, as appropriate, and implements a program for exposure evaluation, treatment, medical follow-up and documentation of exposures.
22. Serves as a liaison with medical facilities, OSHA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Public Health Officer to ensure compliance and evaluate EMS procedures to improve infection control practices.
23. Remains updated on best practices regarding infection control, particularly as it relates to Department operations.
24. Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience:

The equivalent of three (3) years of experience working with a pre-hospital care system and/or emergency room.

AND

Experience:

Experience as a Critical Care/Trauma/Emergency Nurse/or California licensed Paramedic.

Licenses:

A current valid California Registered Nurse license.

OR

A current valid California Paramedic license.

AND

A current valid California Class C driver’s license.    

Special Requirements:

This position will occasionally require periodic response to emergency situations to evaluate paramedic/EMT performance. This requires being physically capable of getting on and off fire apparatus in an emergency setting.

NOTE:    The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE:    The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of emergency medicine.
• Planning, development and implementation of comprehensive and effective EMT-P and EMT-B training programs.
• Legal and ethical guidelines related to the practice and administration of EMS programs.
• Fire-based emergency medical programs, training methodologies and techniques.
• Provide guidance and support for employees for mental health responses.
• Microsoft Office Suite, Access, and PowerPoint.

Ability to:

• Evaluate medic effectiveness in assessing and treating patients.
• Prepare concise narrative and statistical reports using word processing, database, and spreadsheet technologies.
• Design performance measurement instruments and mechanisms.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Work effectively and calmly in stressful situations.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Make sound decisions, use good judgment.
• Plan, organize and prioritize work.
• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

BG:pf 2/25/02
Newspec: 8164.doc
Non-County Class Unrepresented
CSC Date: 2002
RC:pf Revised/Retitled 7/27/04
Old Title: Emergency Medical Services Quality Improvement & Education Coordinator
CSC Date: 9/15/04
MH:cs Revised 6/16/15
CSC Date: 7/8/15

DRH:sa Revised 05/10/2022

CSC Date: 8/10/2022

BENEFITS

*** For benefit information, please refer to the recruitment brochure.