Emergency Medical Services

It is the mission of the City of Beaumont Public Health Emergency Medical Service to provide the citizens, visitors and surrounding communities of Beaumont an elite level of emergency medical care as well as frontline access to the Public Health network. The City of Beaumont EMS will meet this mission by striving to maintain an exceptional level of clinical expertise through effective training, continuing education, quality improvement and the application of current medical technology. The City of Beaumont EMS will provide this exceptional emergency care as an extension of definitive medical care regardless of age, sex, race, or financial status.

► Operations

Schedule
24/48 ABC Shift
56hr Work Week Average
All hours over 40 paid at time and a half

► Protocols

• Differential based
  • Provide off-line medical control direction
  • Limited reliance upon On-line Medical Control
• Advanced Procedures
  • RSII
  • Adult/Pediatric IO
  • Surgical Airway
  • Chest Decompression
  • Initiation of Cardiac & Trauma Alerts
  • Nitroglycerine Drips

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Certification Courses and Training

 

• Training Courses are taught in-house by our certified instructors:
  
  • International Trauma Life Support (ITLS)
  • Pediatric Education for Pre-hospital Professionals (PEPP)
• Beaumont EMS also has agreements with local Hospital Continuing Education departments for classes listed below. The classes are provided at no cost toACLS Experienced Provider (ACLS-EP)
• Intructor classes are also available for above certifications.

Continuing Education Program

• Monthly continuing education classes provided to all employees and other healthcare providers. Topics are taken from the recommendation of the QA/QI program.
• Our active Medical Director also participate in this program regularly, providing feedback as well as specific topics
• BEMS employees are paid to attend these classes and training classes required by the department & division.

Training Program

New Employee Training Program (NETP)

• Classroom didatic training; 8am - 5pm
  
  • Basic certification will be required to sit through 4-weeks of training.
  • Intermediate certification will be required to sit through 3-weeks of training.
  • Paramedic certification will be required to sit through 2-weeks of training.
• Protocol and skills instruction
• Basic pathophysiology of common disease processes
• Provides 68 hours of CEUs

Field Training

• Assigned to a Field Training Officer, as third-man on the unit.
• Introduction and application of differential protocols.
• 10 shift minimum with an additional 5 shifts if needed.

Protocol Examination

• 80% required to pass the NETP as well as receiving full CEUs
• Two attempts allowed

Mentorship Program

• Assigned to Mentor Medic - this will allow the new employee opportunity to adapt to the new system.
• Proficiency evaluation period
• 3-6 month duration

Field Evaluation

Field evaluations are performed to verify medics within their respective levels. These field evaluations include, but not limited to:

• Release to Mentorship Phase
• Release off of probational period
• Paramedic-1 Evaluation
• Paramedic-2 Evaluation
• Focus Evaluation
• Remedial Evaluation
• Authorization for Clinical Practice Evaluation

Paramedic Fast-Track Program

The City of Beaumont - Paramedic Fast-Track Program is designed to give our employees the opportunity to upgrade to a Paramedic Certification. Due to the constraints of an "ABC" Shift, the program is schedule around such a shift. This allows our employees to continue working without putting a burden on their financial obligation.

• The course is 15 weeks long
  
  
• Approved by TX - DSHS
  
  
• Dedicated instructors and preceptors

THE HIRING PROCESS

I. Written examination

The written examination consists of approximately 50 multiple choice questions. There are three different exams; Basic, Intermediate and Paramedic. The paramedic written exam also includes ECG recognition strips.

II. Physical agility and skills testing

1. Physical agility - Two Sections:
   • The candidate will carry two bags, medical and airway, up three flights of stairs to the fourth floor; perform one-rescuer CPR in accordance with AHA guidlines for 5 minutes; return to the ambulance with the two bags; unload the gurney from the ambulance and touch the door of the structure.
   • The candidate and an officer will carry an approximately 100-kg victim down three flights of stairs from the fourth floor to the first floor using the Reeves' Sleeve. The victim will be lifted onto the gurney via the Reeves' Sleeve and secured. The gurney will then be loaded into the ambulance and lock in place.
2. Skills testing:
   • Basic Skills (EMT-B only)
     1. Bleeding Control & Shock Management
     2. Airway Management
     3. Spinal Immobilization: Seated and Supine position
   • Advanced Skills (EMT-I and EMT-P)
     1. Adult & Pedi Intubation
     2. Intravenous Therapy
     3. Spinal Immobilization: Seated and Supine position
   • Scenarios Evaluation (All candidates)
     1. Medical Patient Assessment / Mega Code
     2. Trauma Patient Assessment

III. Oral Interview

The oral interview will be conducted by the EMS Manager, the Clinical Supervisor, and the Shift Commander.

IV. Psychological evaluation

The psychological evaluation will be scheduled by the City of Beaumont Human Resource Department.