Part-Time Mobile Integrated Health Paramedic

SUMMARY

The Mobile Integrated Health ("MIH") Specialist functions as a core member of the Mobile Integrated Health Program within the Department of Public Safety and works collaboratively with multiple offices and departments throughout the County to address the issues of complex patients who use the Emergency Department for the treatment of substance use and behavioral health disorders. The program uses mobile resources to deliver care and services to patients in an out-of-hospital environment in coordination with healthcare facilities or other healthcare providers. This program additionally focuses on substance use disorder patients to prevent unnecessary emergency department visits and establish a clear referral pathway from the field to long-term rehabilitative care. The MIH Specialist shall be a certified PA Dept. of Health EMS worker or RN with prehospital experience, approved for unrestricted medical command authorization by the DPS Chief Medical Officer, and be responsible for identifying and engaging with various patient cohorts for follow-up by the multi-disciplinary Mobile Integrated Health Team.

Additional responsibilities include direct support and delivery of Community Health Education programs such as CPR, Naloxone administration and Stop-the-Bleed initiatives. In addition, the MIH Specialists will be responsible for the execution of special projects as assigned by the Department of Public Safety and the Office of the Medical Director which involve the provision of medical care in non-traditional roles.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Complete all training required in the timeframes established;
• Contact and help patients enroll in various social service programs as necessary to help patients' close gaps in care;
• Document and report all findings as requested;
• Interact with EMS personnel, Public Safety Personnel, ED staff and Care Management teams as necessary to coordinate care for patients;
• Schedule and visit patients to complete social-ecological assessments and follow-up with patients as assigned;
• Respond on an as-available, as-needed basis to 9-1- emergency calls as dispatched by the Montgomery County Communications Center;
• On an as-needed basis, respond to scenes supporting Montgomery County's special operations teams such as USAR and HAZ-MAT;
• The MIH Specialist shall be culturally competent and trained in providing crisis assistance. For behavioral health issues, the MIH Specialist shall work in conjunction with the MIH Paramedics and the Office of Behavior Health's Behavioral Health Response Team ("BHRT") and facilitate the following:
  1. post-acute care follow-up and treatment compliance;
  2. screen patients for depression and substance use disorders;
  3. perform outpatient medication reconciliation;
  4. develop options to manage escalating needs in a community setting;
  5. ensure patients are connected to primary care, and appropriate behavioral and specialty care;
  6. Check Medicaid recertification date and assist patients with the process to maintain coverage.
• Coordinates special projects as needed and assigned by DPS;
• Provide services, including testing, public outreach, and direct medical care for persons under investigation or with suspected or confirmed infectious diseases;
• Note that the individual performing this job may reasonably anticipate coming into contact with human blood, oropharyngeal secretions, and other potentially infectious materials. Individuals in this position must exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment, including N-95 or greater respirators, face shields, gowns, and other devices. They must learn, understand, and comply with the policies concerning infection control procedures and processes;
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of the Department of Public Safety's mission.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

All MIH Specialists must meet the following qualifications. Additional qualifications for each particular grade are listed below.

• Current unrestricted PA EMS certification, such as EMT, AEMT, PHRN, or RN with significant prehospital experience;
• Ability to obtain and maintain unrestricted medical command credentialing from the DPS Chief Medical Officer (applies to all levels of EMS certification);
• PA State Police Criminal Background Check;
• PA Child Abuse Clearance;
• Current EMSVO certification or equivalent;
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation to and from work;
• High school diploma or equivalent, Additional preference will be given to Associate, Bachelor, or Master's degrees. Strong preference will be given to those with formal training in public health;
• Minimum of 1-year experience in public health, EMS, health screenings, or other health-related field;
• Proficient in MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint/SharePoint/Teams;
• Ability to interact effectively with senior management, public safety workers, law enformcent officers, healthcare facility staff, EMS workers, the lay public, and program participants;
• Ability to work early morning, daytime, evening, and weekend hours as necessary.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills including the ability to work as part of a team;
• Maintain current CPR certification. EMS workers above the AEMT level should maintain current ACLS certification;
• Ability to carry tasks assigned to completion;
• Strong professional ethic with good time management skills;
• Ability to quickly react to changing situations to preserve the safety of him/herself, other responders, and the general public;
• Additional qualifications by grade:

• Grade I - "MIH Specialist 1"
  1. Current and unrestricted PA EMS certification as an Emergency Medical Technician
• Grade II - "MIH Specialist 2"
  1. Current and unrestricted PA EMS certification as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician
• Grade III - "MIH Specialist III"
  1. Current and unrestricted PA EMS Certification or National Registry Certification (with eligibility for PA reciprocity) as a Paramedic, Prehospital Registered Nurse, or RN with significant prehospital experience
  2. Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (or equivalent)
• Grade IV - "MIH Specialist IV"
  1. Current and unrestricted PA EMS certification or National Registry Certification (with eligibility for PA reciprocity) as a Prehospital Registered Nurse, Prehospital Physician Extender, or higher.
• Grade V - "MIH Specialist V"
  1. Current and unrestricted PA EMS certification or National Registry Certification (with eligibility for PA reciprocity) as a Paramedic or PHRN.
  2. Ability to lead the team with integrity and supervise the daily operations of the MIH Specialists to include staff scheduling, direct patient care, and front-line supervision of daily operations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. This position requires availability 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This is an Essential Employee position. Essential employees are obligated to report to work as scheduled or remain at work during emergencies.

Note: This position will require some evening and weekend assignments.

Following is the Duty Statement for Essential Employees:

"Carries out essential job functions or assigned emergency duties which may involve assignments within the Emergency Operations Center, deployment to a field location to participate in emergency management activities, or other duties as required during periods of emergency. If received, emergency assignments may be performed under adverse conditions and continue for periods ranging from a few hours to several weeks."

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY: It is the policy of the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety to promote the employment of all individuals in accordance with their fullest abilities regardless of their race, color, religious creed, age, gender, political affiliation/registration, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, lifestyle, familial status or non-job-related handicaps or disabilities. All Department employees will be provided with equal opportunities in employment, wages, promotions, benefits and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment.

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