Paratransit Driver
Paratransit Driver
Job Description
Job Title: Paratransit Driver FLSA: Non-Exempt
Pay: $15.25/Hr
Job Number: 62212
Responsibility To: EMS/Operations Supervisor
Purpose
To provide non-emergency medical transportation to patients.
Essential Job Functions
- Provide safe and efficient transportation and handling of non-emergency litter and wheelchair bound patients.
- Complete and submit all required written reports in a timely manner.
- Maintain assigned vehicle in a constant state of readiness adherent to Corps standards.
- Interact professionally with EMS providers in field situations.
Knowledge
- Methods and techniques of providing on-site patient handling for litter and wheelchair bound patients and other non-emergency patient transportation needs where transportation by ambulance would not be warranted.
- Professional communications techniques.
- CPR
- Ability to read maps.
- Local area EMS infrastructure and geography.
Technical Skills
- Professional operation of ambulette and wheelchair transport vehicles.
- Ability to safely maneuver patients in and out of their pick up/destination locations and these specialized vehicles.
- Communicating effectively at all levels, both orally and in writing.
- Planning, coordinating and adhering to scheduled work assignments.
- Preparing clear and concise reports, documents and records.
Behavioral Skills
- Work smoothly and professionally in an environment where teamwork is essential.
- Work independently with a minimum of supervision for assigned tasks.
- Exercise sound independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
- Anticipate and identify problems and take initiative to prevent or correct them.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of personnel within the medical community, the Corps, outside agencies and customers.
Certification(s) and/or License(s)
- Valid State of Pennsylvania Driver License (must have and maintain a clean driving record).
- Must possess and maintain BCLS Certification (ARC or AHA are accepted)
- Paratransit Driver Safety Course
- Must possess and maintain AED Certification
- Must have completed an annual Blood Borne Pathogens/TB/ Haz-Com Awareness Program.
Education and/or Experience
- High School diploma or equivalent
Physical Demands
The following guidelines are used in describing the frequency of activities in this position:
“Occasionally” equals 1% to 33%, “Frequently” equals 34% to 66%, and “Continuously” equals 67% to 100% of a typical workday.
Standing/Walking:
As stated, the individual may spend 8 to 10 hours at the job site. While at rest in this facility, standing/walking will be optional. On arrival to a transport, walking could be occasional to frequent. The individual is walking to and from the ambulance, assisting in the removal of patients from housing and/or medical facilities. Standing and walking could be on all types of surfaces, including but not limited to; asphalt, cement, concrete, soft/packed dirt, linoleum, wood, hardwood floors, etc. The individual must be able to go up and down slight inclines, declines and staircases that may be found at homes, apartment’s medical facilities and long term care facilities. Standing will occur on the wide variety of surfaces mentioned above. Standing could last from a few minutes to hours, depending on the situation. Standing could occur in the standard erect position, the kneeling or squatting position, etc. The worker will be walking outside in all types of weather conditions with and without patients.
Sitting:
When responding to an emergency situation, the individual will sit in the transport vehicle. The transport vehicles are equipped with a standard installed vehicle seat. The time performing the sitting activity on a transport call would depend on the specific situation. The station is equipped with a small living area that is furnished with standard furniture, i.e., cushion chairs, couches, dining tables and the like. The amount of time spent in this activity would be at the discretion of the employee.
Lifting/carrying:
Frequently, the individual will be required to lift weights ranging from a few pounds to 100 pounds and above. Heavier weights scaled at above 100 pounds would generally involve the patient or patients. The worker would not routinely perform this type of lifting without assistance. Other heavier objects in the high range category would be 5-foot tall, 10-inch diameter oxygen cylinders. These items can be made of quarter inch steel and weigh up to 113 pounds. The Paratransit Driver may often lift and move a gurney. Actual strong-arm lifting of this type of equipment is required. There are two types of gurneys, a one-man gurney which has collapsible wheels where a person rolls the gurney to the back of the ambulance and the wheels collapse allowing the person to suspend the weight of the gurney and patient while pushing it into the transport vehicle. A two-man gurney requires two persons to wheel the gurney to the ambulance, at which time they lift the gurney and patient from the ground up to the ambulance. The gurney is then raised and pushed forward into the vehicle. As mentioned, patients can weigh as little as 5 pounds to as much as 300 pounds and over. The individual will also have to lift items that weigh in the 25 to 35 pound category. These may involve items such as first aid kits. Objects in the 15 to 25 pound category may be various, extracation devices, traction devices, etc. The lifting of weights could range from 12 to 15 times per day, to as little as one or two times, depending on the rate of incidents occurring during the shift… The average distance that equipment or objects would be carried would be approximately 100 feet.
Bending/Stooping:
Frequently throughout a work shift, the individual will be required to bend in a range of one degree to 90 degrees. The average situation will require the individual to work in a range of 35 degree to 65-degree bends. This would involve lifting a patient, picking up equipment, treating the patient at ground level, and sitting at a bench located in the ambulance. The bending/stooping activity may be prolonged and last up to 30 minutes or more. On the average, it was felt 15 minutes would be more appropriate. During a response to a situation, the individual may bend/stoop 1 to 15 times per incident.
Crouching/Kneeling:
Occasionally, the Paratransit Driver is required to perform this activity. Crouching and kneeling may be performed when on the scene picking up or assisting patients. Again, the actual amount of times the individual would assume one of these positions would depend on the particular incident. It could be estimated that the worker may assume the activity 1 to 15 times per day for an average of 15 to 30 minutes in duration.
Climbing:
Occasionally, the worker will be required to climb. Climbing is required when entering and exiting the vehicle. The floor of the operator’s cab is approximately 2 feet off the ground level. If the individual is exiting the rear of the emergency van, he/she will be required to step down approximately 15 inches to a metal step. From there, he/she will step down to ground level, approximately 15 inches from the step. If responding to a situation in a building, the individual may have to climb stairs in double or triple story buildings. On occasion, the individual may be required to climb a ladder. Generally climbing would require that the individual be lifting and carrying items. Balancing may be required when backing down staircases as the Paratransit driver guides the gurney or stair chair.
Reaching:
Reaching is performed frequently to continuously throughout the work shift in order to operate communication equipment, and administer oxygen. If working inside the ambulance enroute to a medical facility, the individual may be seated on a bench next to the patient. Located inside the treatment area of the van are shelves that can be accessed by reaching above head for towels, equipment and the like. Reaching will involve partial to full extension of the arms.
Pushing/Pulling:
Frequently throughout a work shift, the individual will be required to push and pull. The activity that would require the most force in pushing and pulling is when removing or returning the gurney to the emergency vehicle. The gurney is set on the floor of the emergency vehicle and locked into place by a lever. In order to remove the unit, the individual will grasp with the left hand while squeezing to unlock this device. The other arm may be used to pull the gurney backward and out of the pen. Pushing/pulling will be required when maneuvering the gurney to the site and to the transport vehicle. Obviously, moderate pushing will be required when going to the patient and depending on the weight of that individual. Pushing and pulling the gurney to the vehicle will depend on the individual’s weight. Pushing and pulling is required when opening and closing vehicle doors. Pushing and pulling to strong force may be required as assisting in removal of patients from home, medical and/or long term care facility..
Handling Grasping:
While working at an accident site, continual bilateral gross manipulation is performed in this job. This may be involved when opening/closing doors, operating communication equipment, and handling small tools such as scissors. The arm and hand must be able to perform all types of positions including supination and pronation. Hyperextension, extension and flexion of the fingers will be involved, ulnar deviation and radial deviation of the hand and wrist as well as abduction and adduction. A wide variety of grasping may be necessary including cylindrical grasping, palmar grasping, hook grasping, tip grasping, lateral grasping and spherical grasping.
Hazards:
The employee, when responding to emergency situations, can be exposed to dust, fumes and gases as the individual is operating or riding in an emergency vehicle. Driving speeds in the vehicle are legally allowed to be 15 miles per hour above the speed limit. Therefore, the individual is exposed to vehicular accidents at a higher speed than normal.
Summary:
The Department of Labor’s Selected Characteristics of Occupations classifies the physical demands of this position as medium or lifting 50 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. This classification would seem to be accurate, with the exception that the individual will have to deal with a variety of people whose weight can range from a few pounds to 100+ pounds. As noted, the worker will be assisted by other co-workers when lifting this type of weight. Also involved in the job are occasional climbing and/or balancing, frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching and continuous reaching, handling, fingering and/or feeling. The work environment is both inside and out.
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