EMS Quality Manager / EMS Fellowship Program Coordinator - WMU Homer Stryker, M.D. School of Medicine

Overview

This position is responsible for the development and management of quality improvement activities and programs for the Kalamazoo County Medical Control Authority (KCMCA) and for numerous medical control authorities (MCA) in neighboring counties. This includes a variety of time critical EMS conditions such as cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction, trauma, and stroke. The position will additionally monitor and maintain the online distance learning platforms, MCA websites, and various clinical databases and registries such as the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES). The position will provide administrative support (e.g., scheduling meetings, recording minutes, etc.) to various MCA meetings. Serves as the EMS Fellowship Program Coordinator and works with the Fellowship Program Director in the development, implementation and management of the EMS Fellowship program.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• In conjunction with MCA Medical Directors, develops a comprehensive, robust, clinically focused continuous quality improvement system for KCMCA and for the MCAs contracted with KCMCA. This may include direct field observations.
• Schedules and assists in the monthly Professional Standards Review Organization (PSRO) Committee meetings for KCMCA and for the MCAs contracted with KCMCA. Provides overall coordination of the MCA PSRO activities in accordance with MCL 333.20919.
• Schedule and assists in monthly EMS Advisory Council meetings for KCMCA and for the MCAs contracted with KCMCA.
• In conjunction with the Medical Directors, develops new EMS clinical protocols and regularly reviews and revises existing protocols.
• Develops, coordinates and instructs educational sessions for Paramedics, EMTs and Medical First Responders with the MCA.
• Complaint resolution, incident investigations, provider debriefings and interviews conducted in accordance with MDHHS due process procedures.
• Independently conducts root cause analysis of identifies clinical issues and determines the level of MCA Director and PSRO involvement. Leads EMS agency through incident debriefing process including education and protocol compliance.
• Effectively uses the State EMS information systems and related registries to monitor clinical performance of EMS field staff within the MCAs.
• Responsible for coordinating initial and on-going credentialing of EMS personnel within the MCAs.
• Maintains records and registry of EMS personnel operating within KCMCA and other MCAs contracted with KCMCA. The EMS Quality Manager will be responsible for the maintenance and archiving of all EMS protocols and MCA business records, including approval letters and other official correspondence with MDHHS.
• Acquires knowledge for new technology and policy/procedure revisions.
• Facilitates the extension of resources of KCMCA to other medical control authorities in the region.
• Collaborates with KCMCA EMS Administrator and EMS Division Staff regularly to accomplish division goals.
• Leads members of Division of EMS and Disaster Medicine in developing, completing and analyzing EMS projects.
• Represents EMS MCAs by participating in specific activities of the Region 5 Healthcare Preparedness Program.
• Represents EMS MCAs by participating in Region 5 Trauma PSRO and other Systems of Care PSRO activities.
• Represents EMS MCAs by participating in Regional Medical Control Authority Network meetings and projects including regional PSRO activities.
• Represents EMS MCAs by collaborating with and assisting EMS Division to facilitate and instruct in WMed Medical First Responder Course for first year medical students.
• Participate in appropriate WMed EMS related research projects.
• Serve as liaison to the field activities of the WMed Emergency Medicine Residency and EMS Fellowship programs.
• Availability to work on weekends or evenings to complete time sensitive projects. Availability to communicate with EMS system stakeholders 24/7 using various communication platforms.
• Acquires knowledge for new technology and policy/procedure revisions.
• Monitors and manages online learning platform for local and region EMS education programs.
• Monitors and manages MCA website and social media accounts.
• In role as EMS Fellowship Program Coordinator, provides administrative program support to the EMS Fellowship Program Director and to EMS fellows and applicants. This includes scheduling meetings, recording minutes of meetings, and assuring compliance with EMS fellowship regulatory and accreditation standards.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree preferred.
• Extensive experience in EMS supervision/EMS system operations: At least 5 years of full-time experience as a practicing paramedic is required, with experience in EMS operational and clinical supervision, EMS instruction, and/or quality improvement desired.
• Experience operating within major EMS incidents, serving within an incident command structure, and/or operating in an emergency operations center is beneficial.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS:

• Licensure as a Michigan Paramedic (or eligible) required.
• Licensure as an EMS Instructor/Coordinator is desirable and expected within 12 months of employment.
• Successful completion of the following FEMA courses is required: IS 100, IS 200, IS 700, and IS 800.
• FEMA ICS 300 and ICS 400 desirable and expected within 12 months of employment.
• Completion of the following is desired: a trauma program such as PHTLS or ITLS; Prehospital Pediatric Life Support course such as PALS; ACLS, BLS, BDLS and ADLS
• Certification as an instructor in BLS, ACLS. PALS and NDLS desirable and expected within 12 months of employment.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Solid understanding of EMS system components and fundamentals of emergency management.
• Knowledge of quality improvement principles and practices specific to EMS.
• Able to apply problem solving skills in various aspects of performance improvement
• Ability to develop and implement training programs for EMS providers at all levels.
• Demonstrated teaching ability.
• Ability to display flexibility in scheduling, time management and resource use.
• High level of organizational skills and ability to concurrently manage multiple tasks in a timely fashion.
• Ability to effectively communicate with others verbally and in writing with a high degree of accuracy.
• Knowledge and proficiency in word processing, file management using MS-Office and other software as required by the Department.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize priorities in organization of work flow.
• Able to perform duties independently with ability to prioritize and perform multi-tasking with minimal need for direct supervision.

INTERPERSONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Exhibits a commitment to the medical school mission, vision and values; Educational Pledge; Code of Professional Conduct; and building a supportive learning and working environment with a positive attitude at the work place and toward their job.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact in a positive and helpful manner with all constituents both internally and externally in a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Ability to work effectively on group projects with internal and external customers in a collaborative manner.
• Applies knowledge of principles and process for providing exemplary stakeholder service and support. This includes assessment of stakeholder needs, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of stakeholder satisfaction.
• Maintains the confidentiality of all patient, employee, physician, student, and institutional information.
• Support and assist enhancing the culture, diversity and inclusiveness of the medical school.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• The employee regularly works in a clean, well-lighted, temperature controlled, and smoke-free environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Minimal risk of exposure to noxious substances and infectious agents. EMS and disaster medicine aspects of this position may result in a temporary need to work in an austere environment (temperature extremes, low visibility, and potentially hazardous conditions) under high stress, during actual incidents or during field exercises.
• The employee will drive to meet travel requirements on a frequent basis, to include drive times of more than one hour. Travel may require personal vehicle use (travel/mileage reimbursed) and the need to stay overnight away from home.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• The employee must be able to perform a combination of sitting, standing and walking. Must have the ability to hear within normal range and possess the physical capability and hand dexterity to operate basic office equipment.
• Occasionally lifts average of 30 pounds.