Job Summary:

The LIFE FORCE Emergency Communications Specialist at Erlanger serves as a central communication hub supporting air medical flight operations, event medicine and special operations teams, regional medical coordination (MedComm), and Erlanger's emergency and disaster response efforts. This role operates within a highly technical, regional communications center and facilitates communication both internally across Erlanger and externally with EMS and healthcare partners. The position requires flexibility, including variable shifts (nights, weekends, and holidays), routine on-call responsibilities, and potential field response through deployment of a mobile communications unit.

Responsibilities:

In support of Flight Operations, the specialist coordinates air medical transport requests from 911 centers and hospitals across the southeastern region. Responsibilities include collaborating with pilots and transport teams to monitor weather and navigation systems, ensuring safe patient transfers, providing flight-following in accordance with FAA Part 135 regulations, coordinating aircraft movements at the Erlanger Heliport, and maintaining real-time communication with aircraft and emergency responders. The specialist also facilitates interoperable communication plans for each mission.

For Event Medicine and Special Operations, the specialist establishes and manages communications for LIFE FORCE event teams, special operations units, and regional tactical (SWAT) medical teams. This includes coordinating communication among field teams, law enforcement liaisons, and Erlanger medical staff during deployments and on-scene operations.

Within Regional Medical Control and Coordination (MedComm), the specialist manages communication between EMS providers and hospitals throughout Tennessee EMS Region 3 and surrounding areas. Duties include facilitating radio and telephone medical control between prehospital providers and physicians and coordinating EMS resources during routine and large-scale events. The role also supports mass casualty and disaster response by coordinating resources, engaging mutual aid partners, and managing communication and deployment efforts in collaboration with the State Emergency Operations Center and Tennessee Division of EMS.

For Erlanger Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, the specialist acts as a key coordination point between emergency management, the Safety Officer, the EHS Command Center, and external responders. Responsibilities include coordinating response and recovery resources, activating system-wide emergency alerts, managing inbound emergency traffic, and ensuring effective, interoperable communication across all responding agencies.

Education:

Required: Graduate of an EMT-Basic, Advanced EMT, or EMT-Paramedic Program

Preferred: Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) certificate preferred, APCO Certified Public Safety Telecommunicator preferred, Associate or bachelor's degree

Experience:

Required: A minimum of 2 years public safety field experience or 2 years emergency communications center or emergency operations center experience. Experience must reflect general knowledge in pre-hospital EMS practice and skills or pre-hospital incident command system operations and management; Knowledge of current trends and new developments, principles and practices of emergency communications and pre-hospital medicine, applicable to those areas requiring special education.

Preferred: Call Center, 911 Center and/or air medical communications experience, Supervisory experience in EMS or other public safety discipline, Experience with computer aided dispatch programs, automatic vehicle location tracking systems, electronic patient care record systems or electronic health record systems, Experience working in a hospital emergency department or other healthcare outpatient setting.

Position Requirement(s): License/Certification/Registration

Required: Current licensure to practice as an EMT-Basic, Advanced EMT or EMT-Paramedic in the State of Tennessee, Current BLS certification prior to going to unit/department and maintained going forward, Certified Flight Communicator certification (within 1 yr of employment), FEMA ICS Courses: ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-700, ICS-800 level courses (within 60 days of employment), Valid Driver's License

Preferred: Nationally Registered AEMT or EMT-P, ITLS or PHTLS, PALS or PEPP and ACLS, FEMA ICS Courses: ICS-300, ICS-400, FEMA Communications Unit Leader (COML) Certification

Department Position Summary:

The Emergency Communications Specialist must have a working knowledge and operational understanding of guidelines and procedures for coordinating both local and regional emergency medical service (air and ground) responses and radio traffic. Must accurately develop flight and communications plans for air medical transport, accurately maintain federal, state, local, Med-Trans and EHS records and documentation, function as the FAR Part 135 Operator's designated Flight Follower on all air medical missions, maintain safe and effective operations of the Erlanger Heliport (0TN8), demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide radio and telecommunications assistance, function as a liaison between EMS and hospital emergency departments, and establish, coordinate and maintain communications for LIFE FORCE Event Medicine and Special Operations Team deployments.