Emergency Communications Specialist, Critical Patient Team

 

We fight as innovators. As boundary-pushers. We fight as world leaders in emergency medical care. We fight because every life is worth it. When our first helicopter took flight in 1985, we radically changed the way critical care was delivered. Our crews comprise of life-saving professionals that receive advanced medical training to save lives. Every patient aboard a STARS helicopter is in the care of a crew who excel and are innovative in their roles. Totally patient-centered, we’re finding ways to get to the people who need us, no matter where they are. From improving our reach in rural areas to leveraging technology, we’re finding ways to bridge the gap and make the impossible, possible.  

STARS is a charitable, non-profit organization that flies over 3,000 missions each year providing time, hope and life-saving care for the critically ill and injured.  If you care about doing work that makes an impact in people’s lives, we want to hear from you!

Emergency Communications Specialist - Level 2 - Full-time permanent - multiple hires may result from this posting

Is this challenge for you?
As part of the Critical Patient team, the Emergency Communications Specialist (ECS) will answer emergency medical calls and facilitate communication between multiple emergency services partners to coordinate the transport and care of critically ill and injured patients across Alberta and Saskatchewan. 

This role actively uses dispatch technology, standard operating procedures, and critical thinking to manage the deployment and monitoring of STARS' helicopters and crews.  The ECS role is fast-paced and dynamic, demanding the ability to prioritize tasks and process multiple calls and events concurrently.  Strong communication skills, teamwork, and resiliency are vital to your success in this role.  This is a shift-work role, requiring holiday, weekend, and nighttime support in a 24/7 environment as part of a 4 x 12 hour shift rotation schedule. 

Responsibilities include:

• Respond to requests from civilians, first responders, dispatch professionals, and physicians in support of critical care processes
• Follow established protocols to ensure each call is handled effectively and efficiently
• Accurately and diligently input information into a multi-screen computer system in real time
• Utilize dispatch technology, including computer aided dispatch, mapping tools, telephone and radio
• Maintain discretion and confidentiality of information 
• Recognize when situations are beyond scope of training and escalate as needed
• Participate in quality monitoring processes and continue to improve skills based on feedback received
• Complete projects, administrative work, and other tasks as assigned

Do you have what it takes?
You are an exceptional communicator with a professional phone manner and ability to remain calm under pressure in high-consequence situations.  Focusing on the task at hand, while being aware of all that is going on around you, comes as second nature to you, as do critical thinking and multi-tasking. A commitment to connect and collaborate as part of a high-performing team is essential. You must be mature, resilient, and comfortable being exposed to trauma calls/troubling circumstances, and capable of handling events involving acute medical distress. Successful applicants will be required to pass a classroom training phase, a coaching/precepting phase and show ability to develop to an ECS Level 3 dispatch position.

Qualified candidates will possess the following skills/attributes:

• High level of accuracy and attention to detail are essential
• Strong time management skills and multi-tasking abilities
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and decision-making skills
• Ability to adapt to changing situations and work environments
• Ability to understand and follow standard operating procedures
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships
• Proficiency in the use of technology required, ideally including public safety telecommunications software, mapping, radio, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), telephone conferencing and systems
• Minimum typing speed of 40 WPM
• Ability to thrive in a team environment and maintain a positive, professional attitude
• One or more years of experience working in a fast-paced, high-pressure role that requires multi-tasking is considered an asset

What we offer!
We offer a competitive salary, as well as excellent organization-paid benefits, with a matched RRSP program, free parking, and so much more.  More importantly you will be a key member of the STARS organization and a link in our ability to execute our mission of saving lives safely within the chain of survival.  As this position has been identified as safety-sensitive, employment of the preferred candidate will be conditional upon successful completion of required pre-employment alcohol and drug assessments. 

While we thank all applicants for their interest, we are only able to contact applicants selected for an interview. You are encouraged to watch for future opportunities by checking www.stars.ca

To be considered for this career opportunity, please apply by December 1, 2024.

By clicking "submit", you provide Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS) consent to collect, use and disclose your personal information for the purpose of evaluating, establishing and/or managing an employment relationship with you. You acknowledge that your personal information may be transferred outside Canada, and may be accessible to law enforcement and national security authorities outside Canada. If you have questions about this consent, or wish to obtain further details about STARS' privacy practices, please contact our privacy officer at privacy@stars.ca or review our privacy policy at https://stars.ca/privacy-policy/ .