JOB TITLE: DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, DOH

JOB CODE: 39439

DEFINITION: This is professional and administrative work developing, implementing, directing, and coordinating a statewide emergency medical services program within the Department of Health (DOH).

The employee in this job is responsible for the administration of the commonwealth pre-hospital emergency medical care and delivery system. Work involves developing and implementing policies; providing policy direction to the statewide Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Advisory Council and the Regional EMS Councils; and directing the coordination of area wide emergency medical services systems throughout the state as well as coordinating the commonwealth EMS System with similar systems in neighboring states. Work includes serving as the contract officer for the Regional EMS Councils, serving as principal advisor to the Secretary of Health and other agency executives on issues relating to the development and administration of the statewide emergency medical services program; and communicating and meeting with legislators, EMS officials from other states, advisory boards, contracted staff, agency officials, hospital administrators, and medical personnel. Work also involves establishing program goals and objectives; formulating and publicly advocating substantive program policies and developing operating procedures in conjunction with program policies; reviewing and critiquing state and federal legislation related to services provided; preparing reports on program operations and issues; and evaluating program effectiveness. Supervision is exercised over professional, technical, and clerical staff. Work is performed independently under the general direction of the Deputy Secretary for Health Planning and Assessment and is reviewed through conferences and reports for goals and objectives attained.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Plans, organizes, implements, directs, and coordinates a statewide emergency medical services program which includes developing and implementing policies, rules, and regulations; and establishing standards and criteria for emergency medical services systems.

• Advises the Secretary of Health and other high level agency decision-makers on issues relating to the development and administration of the statewide emergency medical services program.

• Recommends and publicly advocates substantive program policy changes whenever necessary; coordinates the implementation of these policy changes throughout the commonwealth emergency medical services system.

• Maintains close working relationships with legislators, EMS officials from other states, advisory board members, emergency medical services councils, departmental officials, county officials, hospital administrators, and medical personnel including physicians and nursing staff and other providers of pre-hospital care in order to develop, expand, and improve the provision of emergency medical services.

• Functions as the contract officer for the Regional EMS Councils and approves council contracts for Regional EMS Councils.

• Directs the training and certification of emergency medical services personnel, facilities, and equipment.

• Provides advice and consults with community groups for the purpose of identifying emergency medical service needs and proposes methods for their resolution.

• Directs studies and data gathering surveys of emergency medical services and educational needs; and supervises the evaluation, analysis, and interpretation of the collected data.

• Coordinates the exchange of emergency medical services programs and policies, patient data and information pertaining to licensed ambulance services, training curriculum, certification procedures for personnel and equipment, and records management systems design for contracted agency personnel, pre-hospital emergency medical care providers, and to their counterparts in other states.

• Develops the Annual Emergency Medical Services Development Plan and amendments to ensure there is a coordinative effort between Regional Plans and the EMS Development Plan.

• Reviews Regional Work Plans to ensure they are integrated with Regional Plans and the State Plans for Emergency Medical Services.

• Develops and implements public education and information programs as well as conducts periodic quality assurance reviews to determine the scope and quality of these programs throughout the commonwealth.

• Evaluates training programs for certification, recertification, and the continuing education for a vast array of medical services personnel, including ambulance attendants, first responders, EMTs, EMT-Paramedics, emergency services dispatchers, health professionals, rescue technicians, and other pre-hospital, hospital, and inter-hospital personnel.

• Employees in this job may participate in the performance of their subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, current developments, and issues in emergency medical services, including hospital organization, administration, and related activities.

• Knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines which impact the development and implementation of statewide emergency medical services, facilities, and personnel.

• Knowledge of federal, state, and local agency services provided and the availability of funding resources, which may contribute to or affect the development and implementation of EMS programs.

• Knowledge of methodologies and techniques used in collection and interpretation of data, and the applicability of data to the planning, development, and implementation of comprehensive statewide EMS programs.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration including organizational structure, budgeting, and planning.

• Knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques of emergency disaster preparedness organization and activities.

• Ability to effectively integrate EMS programs, services, and priorities with overall departmental programs and priorities.

• Ability to develop and administer contracts for Regional EMS Councils.

• Ability to develop and monitor the State Plan for Emergency Medical Services and to review Regional Work Plans in relationship to Regional Plans and the State Plan.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Five years of professional experience in the areas of planning, development, promotion, or training for a disaster relief, public safety, emergency management, or other emergency medical service program, which includes two years of experience in an administrative or supervisory capacity; and a bachelor's degree in public health, health care administration, emergency medical services, or a closely related field;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training.