Flight Paramedic (Full Time)

Job Title: Flight Paramedic (Full Time)
Work Location: Arkadelphia, AR
Division/Department: Air Med

The Flight Paramedic is a licensed paramedic and critical care transport clinician who provides safe, autonomous, evidence-based care to critically ill or injured patients across the lifespan. As part of an interdisciplinary transport team, the Flight Paramedic assesses, stabilizes, treats, monitors, and transports patients by rotor-wing aircraft, fixed-wing aircraft when assigned, and ground critical care ambulance. Care is provided within applicable law, paramedic licensure, Pafford Medical Services, Inc. policies and clinical guidelines, the program's scope of care, and medical direction.

Responsibilities

Provides safe, autonomous, evidence-based care to critically ill or injured patients across the lifespan; Assesses, stabilizes, treats, monitors, and transports patients by rotor-wing aircraft, fixed-wing aircraft when assigned, and ground critical care ambulance; Reviews transport requests and available records; Stabilizes, prepares, and safely transports adult, pediatric, neonatal, obstetric, medical, and trauma patients; Continuously monitors the patient, recognizes deterioration, anticipates complications, and initiates timely interventions; Manages advanced airways and mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring, infusion therapy, vasoactive and sedative medications, blood products, drains, tubes, and other authorized critical care therapies; Participates in mission briefings, risk assessment, crew resource management, and debriefing; Performs equipment, medication, oxygen, battery, and supply checks; Coordinates effectively with pilots, communications personnel, EMS, fire and law enforcement agencies, referring and receiving facilities, and specialty teams; Completes accurate and timely patient care records; Participates in quality management, case review, peer review, safety reporting, performance improvement, and clinical investigation; Maintains required licenses, certifications, continuing education, clinical currency, skills validation, and annual competencies; Serves as a clinical resource or preceptor when qualified and assigned.

Requirements

Current, unrestricted paramedic license or certification in each state required for assignment and patient transport. Additional state licensure/certification must be obtained within the timeframe established by Pafford Medical Services, Inc.; At least three years and a minimum of 4,000 hours of recent ALS experience with progressively increasing responsibility, including critical care transport, high-acuity EMS, emergency department, intensive care transport, or other experience relevant to the program’s scope of care; Current American Heart Association BLS and ACLS credentials; Current PALS, or PEPP credential appropriate to the program's pediatric scope of care; Current NRP credential when assigned to high-risk obstetric or neonatal patients; Current trauma education appropriate to the role and program scope, such as ITLS, PHTLS, or an approved equivalent; Successful completion of pre-employment screening, clinical knowledge and skills evaluation, orientation, and competency validation; FP-C or CCP-C certification must be obtained and maintained within two years of employment in the Flight Paramedic role; Valid driver's license and ability to meet company vehicle-operation requirements when driving is assigned; Advanced assessment, critical thinking, prioritization, and independent decision-making in resource-limited and rapidly changing environments; Competence in advanced ALS and critical care pharmacology, airway and ventilator management, hemodynamics, shock and resuscitation, trauma, neurologic and obstetric emergencies, and age-specific care within the program's scope; Ability to communicate concisely by radio, telephone, electronic systems, and in person; provide structured handoffs; and resolve conflict professionally; Ability to organize competing priorities, maintain situational awareness, and work effectively as part of a two-clinician transport team; Basic computer proficiency and ability to use electronic patient care, communication, inventory, and learning-management systems; Safely perform essential functions in confined aircraft and ambulance spaces and in hospital, scene, ramp, and outdoor environments; Regularly stand, walk, sit, reach, bend, kneel, stoop, climb aircraft steps, work in awkward positions, and push or pull loaded stretchers and equipment; Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds independently and assist with heavier patients and equipment using team-lift techniques and available mechanical aids; Possess sufficient vision, hearing, speech, manual dexterity, and depth and color perception to assess patients, operate equipment, communicate in high-noise environments, and complete documentation; Tolerate vibration, turbulence, motion, altitude-related pressure changes, temperature extremes, weather exposure, noise, limited lighting, and required protective and aviation safety equipment; Work rotating or extended shifts, nights, weekends, holidays, call periods, travel, and mission-related overtime while complying with fatigue and fitness-for-duty requirements; Work around blood and body fluids, infectious disease, hazardous materials, medications, and oxygen systems while following required safety controls.

Nice to have

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Paramedicine, EMS, Emergency Management, Healthcare Administration, or related field; FP-C, CCP-C, CCP, TPATC, CCEMTP, or EMS Instructor credentials consistent with assigned patient populations; Previous critical care transport, flight paramedicine, EMS, or prehospital experience; Experience in a Level I or II trauma center, tertiary referral center, or comparable high-acuity setting