A paramedic coordinator is also known as a paramedic dispatcher or emergency medical services (EMS). The candidate is at least a high school graduate or possesses a GED equivalent. Since this kind of work requires responding to emergency medical situations, the candidate must be able to maintain a calm demeanor in handling the patient.
All kinds of patients are dealt with in doing the work. Due to this, a candidate who can adapt and communicate well with patients of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities will succeed. In general, the candidate has to be flexible with the work hours. It is a demanding field physically that normally goes beyond forty hours a week. A typical work duty is ten to twelve hours. The stress in this work is very high and the candidate must be able to handle all the pressure.
Medical Information
At work, the paramedic coordinator receives all kinds of medical emergency calls and communicates with personnel who can go to the scene immediately. Good communication skills with the ability to note down all the important information are a must for the patient to survive the emergency. A candidate needs to have background with medical terms and computer programs. The medical records of the patient are always reviewed before giving treatment. For any medical changes in the condition of the patient, all of these are noted down for future reference. A nursing graduate can also be in this line of work provided that the work experience lies in dealing with emergency cases.
Patient Sensitivity
Multiple medical emergency calls are received while on duty. The candidate must be alert at all times in doing work. Sensitivity to the patient’s needs is the highest priority. The movement of ambulances is always tracked to determine which unit can be sent to the patient. It is important for the candidate to know the medical procedures, concepts, and operations by heart in assisting the patient. Since it is always an emergency situation, the candidate is willing to experience injuries when they occur. There are plenty of emergency situations for medical, police, and fire departments. As long as the work performance in emergencies is satisfactory, the candidate can be given more complicated work cases.
Good Decision-Making
The paramedic coordinator works in irregular hours and anytime within 24 hours. The nature of the work lets the candidate be disciplined enough to handle all kinds of emergency medical cases given. As needed, the candidate can give emergency medical dispatch to the patient. It is crucial that the candidate can make good medical decisions based on the self-judgment in dealing with the patient. Utmost patience is required in handling a patient who appears to be hostile and has a hard time accepting the emergency situation. The hospitals nearest to the emergency scene are known so that the medical condition can be relieved temporarily. All telecommunications equipment needed to do the work well are functional in responding to the medical emergency.
Creating Medical Reports
The public safety rules and regulations are known by heart. The most important knowledge in doing the work is medical. When the candidate has adequate knowledge of symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for medical emergency conditions, the patient will be in good hands. Injuries, deformities, and diseases will always be handled with utmost attention for the work. The ability to read complicated medical information on graphs, tables, and charts will serve the candidate well. Writing medical reports as reference for future situations is also necessary.
Physical Demands
Government regulation, law codes, democratic political process, legal precedents, agency rules, and court procedures will also benefit the candidate. Being able to communicate orally and efficiently with patients and their families is a must. The patient’s family can understand what will be done for the medical condition to be relieved. In this physically demanding work, the candidate will do a lot of fingering, handling, sitting, talking, hearing, repetitive motions, and good eye/hand/foot coordination. Lifting the patient into the ambulance can be strenuous. The color vision, depth perception, field of acuity, and field of vision of the candidate are satisfactory.
Former Emergency Work
In this field, there are many interruptions that can be experienced. Being able to adjust to unpredictable situations all the time is needed. Responding positively to emergency situations is the most important. The patient also needs encouragement while awake. Being experienced for a year in a police, medical or fire department can be good for the candidate. Having been a 911 emergency operator for a year will also be advantageous for the candidate. The Emergency Medical Dispatch Training certification can be completed after probation.
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