Paramedic - Emergency Unit (Per Diem)

Melrose/Wakefield Hospital, part of the Tufts Medicine system, has been offering the highest quality and accessible healthcare to the local community for over 130 years.  With two hospital campuses, Level III Trauma Center, Level III Special Care Nursery, Breast Health Center, Cardiovascular Center and over 20 locations and 50 specialties, Melrose/Wakefield Hospital offers many opportunities to grow your career.  

Job Profile Summary

This role focuses on providing medical and clinical support services to patients. In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Paramedic duties: Responds to emergency medical calls, providing on-site aid and transporting patients safely to medical facilities, and providing advanced home care to patients in an effort to reduce hospital utilization.  Responsibilities may also include maintaining equipment, filing reports and transporting patients between hospitals. A clinical technologist role that has specialized knowledge or skills gained through a combination of vocational education, training, and experience. This role will be most commonly applied to patient care and/or scientific/laboratory jobs. An experienced level role requiring basic knowledge of job procedures and tools obtained through work experience and requiring vocational or technical education.  Works under moderate supervision, works through problems of a routine nature, but may at times require interpretation or deviation from standard procedures and communicates information that requires some explanation or interpretation.

Job Overview 

This position is an allied health professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients. Possesses the complex knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation. Conducts detailed assessments and utilizes available diagnostics to collaborate with physicians and nursing staff to determine appropriate treatments and intermediate care management strategy. Responds to patient’s care needs, requests appropriate referrals, and provides education to patients and their families regarding their medical conditions. Works cooperatively within the department and other services to create a system of quality health care. 

Hours: Per diem, various hours/shifts. Includes one weekend a month requirement.

Location: Melrose/Wakefield Hospital - 585 Lebanon St, Melrose, MA 02176.

Job Description 

Minimum Qualifications: 

1. Completion of accredited Paramedic program. 

2. Certified Paramedic by National Registry of EMTs.

3. Massachusetts Certified Paramedic.  

4. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. 

5. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification. 

6. Valid State issued driver’s license. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

1. Associate’s degree. 

2. BLS, ACLS, PALS Instructor. 

3. Incident Command System (ICS) course 200.

4. HAZMAT operations level training. 

5. Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) training. 

6. One (1) year of relevant experience. 

7. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list.  Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. 

1. Provides transportation and transfer of patients using appropriate modes including ambulatory assist, wheelchair, stretcher, ambulance or scoop stretcher/backboard.  

2. Performs detailed assessments, diagnostic tests, administers treatments as ordered, monitors infusions, and makes recommendations for patient’s care and treatment. 

3. Prepares patients for transport and clinically monitors patient to maintain stability.  

4. Administers skilled care to patients being transported. Follows clinical protocols, plans, policies and orders correctly. Follows online medical direction during transport if patient’s condition changes. 

5. Avoids hazards, uses safety equipment. 

6. Complies with all health, safety, and privacy regulations. 

7. Routinely accesses and utilizes hospital leadership for any circumstance where advanced direction is needed or may assist with proper execution of job responsibilities. 

8. Complies with performance improvement clinical benchmarks. 

9. Obtains medical history and monitors vital signs during patient contact.   

10. Completes patient charts and all necessary documentation using medical record software (EPIC). 

11. Maintains supplies such as stocking assigned areas with supplies and linen, stocks specialty trays as used, empty hampers, cleaning of beds between patients, washes stretchers and other areas during downtime.

12. Works collaboratively and in a professional manner with all physicians, referring providers, allied health and public safety personnel. 

13. Participates in the discharge planning process of selected patients on inpatient units and in emergency department. 

14. May participate in creating care plans with patient’s physicians, including referrals to other care providers. 

15. Follows operational flow and procedures efficiently and effectively to maximize utilization. 

16. Responds to patient’s care needs.  

17. Assists patients when brought into room by undressing, connecting monitor, BP and O2 Sat as directed.

18. Under the direction of the Emergency Department MD, performs the following:

• Intubation
• Insertion of I/O
• Cardioversion
• External Pacing
• Administration of Code Blue/Emergency Medications that are within the scope of Paramedic via intramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneously, intranasal, via ETT.

19. Performs all clerical duties involved with ordering labs, x-ray’s, EKG’s and procedures.

20. Answers phone and places calls as needed using proper professional etiquette.

21. Administers medications per policy as ordered by the patient’s ED physician.

22. Performs 12 Lead EKG, simple dressings, wound care, ace wraps, assists with AM care and ADL when patients are held in the ED, drawing of labs on patients as ordered.

Physical Requirements:  

1. Prolonged, extensive, or considerable standing/walking, and climbing stairs. 

2. Lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfer patients and equipment up to 100 pounds. 

3. Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, or crawling. 

4. Ability to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls 

5. Regularly exposed to the risk of bloodborne diseases and other transmissible infections. 

6. May have contact with hazardous materials. 

7. Specific vision abilities apply including close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus. 

8. Subject to varying and unpredictable situations, including weather conditions. 

9. Ability to handle emergency and crisis situations. 

10. Subjected to irregular hours. 

Skills & Abilities: 

1. Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail.

2. Ability to prioritize work and complete tasks in a timely manner. 

3. Ability to work independently and accurately with excellent follow-through. 

4. Basic to moderate computer skills including the ability to navigate through hospital-based computer systems. 

5. Knowledge of medical terminology. 

6. Ability to make mathematical calculations.

7. Analytical skills.

8. Communicates with others (including patients) and must effectively be able to exchange information accurately via phone, email, and or in person. 

9. Ability to maintain sensitive and confidential information.  

10. Skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process. This includes: Knowledge of growth and development; Ability to interpret age specific data and response to care; and Provide age specific communication. 

11. Demonstrates competence in use of assigned equipment and has established competence in safe ambulance operations.

12. Analysis and interpretation of cardiac rhythms - reports any abnormalities to the ED MD.

13. Insertion of Peripheral Intravenous Lines.

14. Insertion of External Jugular Intravenous Lines.

15. Demonstrates effective and positive teamwork and initiative with EMS and nursing staff. 

About Melrose/Wakefield Hospital

Melrose/Wakefield Hospital and Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford are two campuses with one community in mind: the people of north suburban Boston.  Melrose/Wakefield Hospital and Lawrence Memorial Hospital are distinguished by the range of high-quality clinical care and services. Our teams welcome everyone with hospitality and humanity. We focus on reducing health disparities through 40+ local health programs across a system of hospitals, urgent care locations, outpatient services, and community physicians.

Core to our values, Melrose/Wakefield Hospital’s commitment to community is demonstrated by our many local health programs throughout our service area and participation in partnerships with community agencies and events, and education programs in more than 10 communities to support the wellness and health of our residents.

At Tufts Medicine, we want every individual to feel valued for the skills and experience they bring. Our compensation philosophy is designed to offer fair, competitive pay that attracts, retains, and motivates highly talented individuals, while rewarding the important work you do every day.

The base pay ranges reflect the minimum qualifications for the role. Individual offers are determined using a comprehensive approach that considers relevant experience, certifications, education, skills, and internal equity to ensure compensation is fair, consistent, and aligned with our business goals.

Beyond base pay, Tufts Medicine provides a comprehensive Total Rewards package that supports your health, financial security, and career growth—one of the many ways we invest in you so you can thrive both at work and outside of it.

Pay Range:

$30.00 - $33.59

based on full-time equivalent