KENDALL FIRE DEPARTMENT AMBULANCE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE TITLE: EMT Duties, Requirements, and Lead EMT Clearance Procedure of Issue: 2/1/2013 Written by: S. Maslyn/KFD EMS Captain Purpose: The purpose of this procedure is to provide a description of the requirements, duties and clearance procedure necessary to be a Kendall Lead EMT with full clearance approval with Kendall Fire Department Ambulance. Job Description/Duties: Kendall Fire Department Ambulance operates as a NYS BLS department. NYS licensed EMT s have many responsibilities and duties that fall within the BLS EMT scope of practice. Such duties include: Safely acknowledging and responding to an emergency call with due regard to road conditions and NYS traffic laws and safely driving the ambulance to an emergency location. Appropriate use of body substance isolation (BSI) procedures. Continuous scene safety assessment. Appropriate use of patient assessment skills needed to determine the mechanism of injury or nature of illness of the patient(s). Appropriate use of communication to request additional assistance or resources from 911 dispatch as needed. Follows established NYS protocols to provide emergency care with continual ongoing patient assessment and prescribed interventions. Determines a patient s medical status and the appropriate medical facility to which the patient will be transported to. Gives patient status report to incoming BLS/ ALS medics and then to the receiving medical facility. Communicates with and uses medical direction from medical physician to follow through with appropriate orders and interventions when necessary for patient care. Assists in transferring the patient from the ambulance to the receiving medical facility. Gives a complete verbal/written report of patient s emergency, and care provided from initial first responders on scene, including all emergency care provided afterwards, to the receiving emergency department staff. Assists emergency department staff with patient
care as required. Completes required pre hospital care report for patient in a detailed, professional, and timely fashion. Cleans, inspects, and restocks used ambulance supplies immediately after return to base. Department Qualification Requirements: The member of Kendall Fire Department must be certified at minimum, as a New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). They must maintain that certification as required by New York State Department of Health. This recertification will be achieved by completing EMT Refresher/Recertification with NYS Test or by completing the CME Pilot recertification program. To qualify for the EMT CME Pilot program, an EMT must possess a current EMT certification, be an active EMT in the department, complete a minimum of 46 documented hours of CME (continuing education), and complete the required 26 documented hours of NYS EMT core content classes per NYS protocol. Continuing education hours may be achieved with documented in house training or with documented outside agency training. All CME and core content training documentation must be submitted to NYS at least 45 days before, but no more than 9 months prior to current certification expiration date. Recertification training requirement fulfillment, including maintenance of CPR card, is the responsibility of the EMT. The member must acquire and maintain CPR with Automated Defibrillation (either American Red Cross or American Heart Association) certification every two years. The member must have verification of practical skills maintenance. The member must also maintain skills for all specialized emergency medical equipment, including but not limited to AED, Glucometer, Epinephrine injectors, Albuterol SO4, suction, immobilization devices, etc. The member must also maintain familiarity with ambulance operation, onboard equipment and onboard supply location. This will be achieved through continuous EMS monthly training session attendance. The member must be and remain free from any physical and or mental impairment that would affect the duties required for this position. The member must possess and maintain a clean criminal record without a felony conviction. Inactive Medic Roster: Failure to meet department qualification requirements will place the EMT on the Inactive Medic Roster. This will occur if the EMT: Fails to maintain current EMT license with required CME education hours and NYS core content hours within 3 years, or with Refresher Recertification. Fails to maintain or update CPR card within 30 days of expiration. Fails to yield to the EMS officer/chief a reason for having limited or no EMS call
response for 6 months or more. Return to the Active Medic Roster will occur with approval of the EMS Captain after all department qualification requirements have been satisfied. If EMT certification has expired, recertification must be achieved by EMT Refresher Class attendance and passing the NYS EMT test, ONLY with approval of the EMS Captain and Department Chief. Kendall Lead EMT Clearance Procedure: Every new Kendall EMT, whether recently NYS certified, new to the Kendall Fire Department, or returning after more than 6 months of inactive EMS response duty, will undergo an EMT clearance process in an attempt to become qualified as a Lead EMT. There will be on file, an EMT Clearance Folder for each Kendall EMT undergoing the Lead EMT Clearance Procedure. It will be the responsibility of each new or returning EMT to complete the required paperwork in their folder and work with the EMS Captain to assure appropriate completion of the clearance process. Once qualified, a Kendall Lead EMT will have EMS Captain/Department Chief/Separate Kendall Lead EMT approval to ride the ambulance alone, if desired, on all EMS calls. The purpose of the clearance process is not to retrain a candidate or returning EMT as a NYS EMT, but to teach/review with the EMT, Kendall Ambulance in house procedures and ambulance operations. This clearance process will require the present Kendall Lead EMT staff (preceptors) to observe and assist the candidate in reaching the desired goals of general self confidence, solid patient care skills, adhering to NYS protocols, while on EMS calls. Kendall EMT/Trainee Evaluation Forms and Kendall Lead EMT Qualification Competency Sheets must not all be signed by the same Kendall Lead EMT (preceptor). More than one Kendall Lead EMT preceptor is required to sign the clearance paperwork to insure varied observations and evaluations. In the event that a Kendall Lead EMT is unavailable to ride the ambulance with the clearance candidate, the candidate may, if desired, respond to the call in their own vehicle. An EMT undergoing the Kendall Lead EMT Clearance Procedure will be required to: Maintain department qualification requirements as previously described. Maintain EMT Clearance folder with appropriate paperwork and preceptor sign offs. Ride the ambulance with a present Kendall Lead EMT (preceptor) on all priority calls. Complete the Kendall Lead EMT Qualification Competency Sheets. Complete, with a Kendall Lead EMT, for each attended ambulance run, a Kendall EMT/Trainee Evaluation Form. Clearance Timeframe: Depending on Kendall EMS call volume and type of EMS calls experienced while in the clearance process, a clearance candidate will make every attempt to clear to full Lead EMT status within a 6 month time frame. During that timeframe, the candidate will receive continual evaluation and feedback from the present Kendall EMS staff (preceptors).
As the candidate proves, in service, patient competency skills, general skills, and confidence, clearance to ride ALONE on priority 3 and priority 2 EMS calls may be approved in stages, in writing, prior to full Lead EMT clearance, by the EMS Captain and Department Chief. At the end of 6 months, if not fully cleared as a Lead EMT, the candidate is evaluated and given feedback from the EMS Captain as to their strengths and weaknesses and is further assisted by the EMS staff in fulfilling the training requirements. An EMT returning from the Inactive Medic Roster may, due to previous experience, complete the Kendall Lead EMT Clearance Procedure at an accelerated speed with appropriate signed approvals from the EMS Captain, Department Chief and another Kendall Lead EMT. At anytime during the clearance process, a candidate may choose to remove themselves from the process to step back and re evaluate their goals and decisions. All EMT clearance approvals and disapprovals will be given to the candidate in writing after review by the EMS Captain, Department Chief and another Kendall Lead EMT. The Department Chief is responsible for notifying all necessary department staff of the Candidate s clearance status. I have read, acknowledged, and agree EMT Trainee/Refresher Name to the above Kendall Fire Department Ambulance SOP for Kendall EMT Requirements, Duties and Clearance Procedure. EMT Trainee/Refresher Signature EMS Captain Signature Department Chief