This is Emergency Medical Services (EMS) work directing either the operations component of the Fire Department EMS program through a staff of Fire Paramedics or the administration of the EMS Regional Office through subordinate fire paramedic officers and administrative and medical support personnel. In the operations function, an employee in this class directs, through subordinate fire paramedic officers, the coordination and deployment of equipment and personnel to emergency scenes and the training of fire paramedic personnel in accordance with state and departmental regulations. Responding to emergency scenes and maintaining command of EMS operations until the arrival of a higher level officer are significant aspects of the work. In the administration function, an employee in this class insures compliance with EMS regulations and directs the activities of the EMS Regional Office, developing and maintaining a comprehensive EMS plan, including the designation of primary response areas for the region. Contacts with state regional and local jurisdictions and coordination with contractors, hospital administrators, and other providers of pre-hospital care activities are significant aspects of the work. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Deputy Commissioner for Fire Operations.

ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be approved for this class.)

1. The position must direct, through subordinate fire paramedic officers, a staff of state-certified fire paramedics and medical support personnel.
   OR
   The position must direct the activities of the City's Emergency Medical Service Regional Office, through fire paramedic officers and subordinate administrative and medical support staff.

2. The position must be responsible for the enforcement of departmental rules and regulations within the EMS Division.
   OR
   The position must be responsible for insuring compliance with EMS regulations governing City/County of Philadelphia. (Municipal and non-Municipal services).

OPERATIONS

• Responds to emergency scenes throughout the city requiring the presence of an emergency medical control officer; relieves subordinate emergency medical control officers; maintains command of emergency service operations until relief by higher level officers; resolves on-scene problems concerning treatment, crowd control, complaints, and related matters.
• Directs, through fire paramedic officers, training of emergency personnel, including CPR certification and recertification, paramedic hazardous materials handling, emergency medical technician-training and automatic defibrillation, certification and recertification.
• Coordinates the recruitment program for paramedics; administers the maintenance of records; oversees infectious disease control strategies.
• Directs, through fire paramedic officers, the deployment of equipment and personnel to the field; handles complains of a medical nature within framework of departmental directives and procedures and with the assistance of the department's resource hospital.
• Directs, through fire paramedic officers, the procurement and management of supplies and equipment; administers first responder program through subordinate supervisors.
• Prepares periodic and special reports on emergency services operations; reviews new directives and orders; interprets new policy and procedural changes to paramedic personnel; may perform emergency work on occasion due to unavailability of subordinate paramedics or offices.
• Performs related work as required.

• Organizes, maintains, expands, and improves the EMS system within the regional area; develops, implements, and maintains a comprehensive EMS plan, including the designation of primary response areas for the region.
• Plans, prioritizes, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of staff involved in the Fire Department's EMS administration; meets with the EMS medical director and regional coordinator on matters affecting the division; meets with city and state physicians and officials to review medical treatment practices and drug-administering protocols; suggests changes to improve practices and techniques; insures compliance with regulations governing EMS within the City/County of Philadelphia (Municipal and non-Municipal Services).
• Designs, negotiates, and monitors contracts and intergovernmental agreements; prepares and annually updates written policies and procedures for the Regional Office, advises subordinates of the Office's EMS goals and objectives which include time frames and available resources; formulates regional office performance reports for supervisory review, summarizing the progress towards meeting goals and objectives.
• Investigates complaints concerning quality of patient care; provides assistance to an works in conjunction with the Regional Medical Director to insure efficient EMS in the region and compliance with State regulations; monitors medical command facilities and accountability of pre-hospital emergency personnel for compliance with established standards; develops and participates in the implementation of the City's and Department's EMS goals and objectives; establishes treatment methods for EMS; implements EMS policies and procedures; recommends EMS system improvements and modifications; prepares cost estimates for budget recommendations; submits justifications for requests; monitors and controls expenditures.
• Maintains an EMS inventory of those resources and personnel available on a volunteer basis as conditions and circumstances require.
• Develops programs to assess the quality of the EMS system in its region and to investigate complaints concerning the quality of care rendered; answers questions and provides information to the public; recommends corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• the current principles, practices, and techniques used in emergency medical treatment.
• established protocols for drug therapy, the measurement of cardiac activity, defribulation, and the treatment of respiratory problems.
• state and local regulations and guidelines governing the operation of EMS.
• supervisory principles and practices as they pertain to directing EMS operations and personnel.
• administrative practices and techniques related to the department's EMS operation.

SKILL IN:

• the performance of emergency medical care and treatment.

ABILITY TO:

• direct and coordinate the training, operations, and field activities of a city-wide EMS program through subordinate fire paramedic supervisors.
• interpret and enforce procedural and policy directives related to the administration of emergency medical care services.
• communicate information and instructions clearly and effectively.
• instill confidence in groups of people in the vicinity of the emergency scene to present unwarranted interference.
• establish effective working relationships with other fire units, police personnel, state authorities, medical personnel, and the general public.
• supervise the preparation and maintenance of records and reports.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• the principles, practices, regulations and techniques employed in the administration of EMS programs.
• the principles of organization, budgeting, and planning.
• community emergency health needs and resources.
• current developments, literature, and funding resources in the field of EMS.
• program management methods and techniques.
• supervisory methods and techniques.
• hospital organization, administration and related activities with special reference to emergency medical services.
• principles, practices and techniques in the organization of emergency disaster preparedness processes and procedures.

ABILITY TO:

• establish and maintain effective working relationships with contracted agency personnel, departmental officials, hospital administrators and regional, state and local EMS agencies.
• direct and coordinate the training, administration, and field activities of the EMS Regional Office through a fire paramedic supervisor.
• insure compliance with procedural and policy directives from State health agencies related to the administration of emergency medical care services.
• supervise the preparation and maintenance of records and reports.

EDUCATION

• Completion of an intensive training program conducted by the Fire Department in advanced life support practices and techniques, especially in the mastery of established protocols for drug therapy and cardiopulmonary and respiratory resuscitation techniques.

SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE

• Two years of current experience as a Fire Paramedic Captain.

• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

• Possession of certification as a Paramedic issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment and during tenure of employment as a Fire Paramedic Services Chief.
• Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment and during tenure of appointment as a Fire Paramedic Services Chief.

PAY RANGE: 308
Class Established: 6/1991

Latest Spec. Revision:
  CSC - 7/1993 ; Ad Board - 8/1993

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