What are the responsibilities and job description for the FTO EMS Provider position at Carolina First EMS?
At Carolina First EMS, we put high-quality health-care within your reach. Whether you use a wheelchair or require stretcher transport, we have the equipment and expertise you need to get to your appointments on-time and hassle-free.
Whether you live in an extended care facility or the same house you moved into 50 years ago, we specialize in helping you make full use of our community’s healthcare options.
Position Summary
The Field Training Officer (FTO) – EMT/AEMT/Paramedic serves as a clinical leader, mentor, and evaluator responsible for training and developing newly hired EMS Providers. The FTO ensures new employees demonstrate clinical competence, operational readiness, professional behavior, and adherence to agency protocols prior to being cleared for independent duty.
The FTO is responsible for verifying that each new employee is competent, confident, and capable of performing their assigned duties safely and effectively. FTOs are authorized to train providers up to their own certification level. EMT FTOs may train EMT-level employees only and may not train AEMT or Paramedic-level new hires.
This role combines clinical excellence, leadership, and instructional responsibility to uphold the highest standards of patient care and operational performance at Carolina First EMS.
Primary Responsibilities
Clinical Leadership & Patient Care
The FTO – EMT/AEMT/Paramedic is expected to exemplify Carolina First EMS standards of clinical excellence, professionalism, accountability, and safety. This role is critical in developing competent EMS Providers and ensuring that only qualified and proficient employees are cleared for independent patient care duties.
Carolina First EMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Whether you live in an extended care facility or the same house you moved into 50 years ago, we specialize in helping you make full use of our community’s healthcare options.
Position Summary
The Field Training Officer (FTO) – EMT/AEMT/Paramedic serves as a clinical leader, mentor, and evaluator responsible for training and developing newly hired EMS Providers. The FTO ensures new employees demonstrate clinical competence, operational readiness, professional behavior, and adherence to agency protocols prior to being cleared for independent duty.
The FTO is responsible for verifying that each new employee is competent, confident, and capable of performing their assigned duties safely and effectively. FTOs are authorized to train providers up to their own certification level. EMT FTOs may train EMT-level employees only and may not train AEMT or Paramedic-level new hires.
This role combines clinical excellence, leadership, and instructional responsibility to uphold the highest standards of patient care and operational performance at Carolina First EMS.
Primary Responsibilities
Clinical Leadership & Patient Care
- Provide patient care at or below the FTO’s level of certification in accordance with state
- Conduct and model thorough patient assessments and appropriate BLS or ALS interventions based on certification level.
- For Paramedic-level FTOs: Lead patient care operations, perform advanced airway management, medication administration, ECG interpretation, and other ALS interventions as indicated.
- Direct and support EMTs, AEMTs, and Drivers during emergency and non-emergency responses as appropriate to certification level.
- Maintain continuous patient care during transport and ensure smooth transfer of care to receiving facilities.
- Maintain effective communication with hospitals, medical direction, dispatch, and other responding agencies.
- Provide structured field training in accordance with the onboarding and education plan established by the Training Manager.
- Train new providers in patient assessment, clinical decision-making, documentation standards, equipment usage, and scene management.
- Ensure trainees demonstrate competency in all required clinical skills within their certification level prior to release from training.
- Evaluate trainee performance objectively and provide timely, constructive, and documented feedback.
- Identify performance deficiencies and provide remedial training as necessary.
- Communicate trainee progress, strengths, deficiencies, and final clearance recommendations to the Operations Manager and Training Manager.
- Withhold clearance and notify leadership if competency standards are not met.
- Train and verify proficiency in completing accurate, timely, and compliant Patient Care Reports (PCRs).
- Ensure new employees can appropriately document assessments, interventions, and medical decision-making.
- Train and confirm competency in all required agency software systems, reporting platforms, communication tools, and onboard technology.
- Train new providers in the proper use, maintenance, and readiness of BLS and ALS equipment appropriate to certification level.
- Ensure ALS equipment, medications, and supplies (if applicable) are properly checked and maintained.
- Maintain cleanliness and operational readiness of the ambulance and medical supplies.
- Reinforce proper infection control procedures and safety standards.
- Ensure adherence to all agency protocols, standing orders, and standard operating procedures.
- Promote ethical conduct, accountability, teamwork, and professional communication.
- Participate in continuing education and maintain all required certifications and licensure in accordance with state and agency requirements.
- Work under the operational guidance of the assigned Team Lead while fulfilling FTO responsibilities.
- Current state certification/licensure as EMT, AEMT, or Paramedic (as applicable).
- Ability to train only up to the level of the FTO’s current certification.
- Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record in accordance with agency policy.
- Current CPR/AED certification (or higher level consistent with provider certification).
- Demonstrated clinical competence and strong decision-making skills.
- Strong communication, leadership, and evaluation abilities.
- Availability to work weekends.
- Prior field training or precepting experience.
- Demonstrated leadership experience within an EMS system.
- Thorough understanding of BLS and/or ALS standards of care consistent with certification level.
- Ability to teach, mentor, and objectively evaluate adult learners in dynamic field environments.
- Strong critical thinking and clinical judgment skills.
- Ability to remain calm and effective in high-stress situations.
- Commitment to high-quality patient care, compliance, and continuous improvement.
- Ability to lift, move, and transport patients using approved patient movement devices.
- Ability to perform physically demanding clinical interventions in various environments.
- Ability to work extended shifts, including nights and weekends.
- Variable shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Exposure to emergency scenes, infectious diseases, inclement weather, and high-stress environments.
The FTO – EMT/AEMT/Paramedic is expected to exemplify Carolina First EMS standards of clinical excellence, professionalism, accountability, and safety. This role is critical in developing competent EMS Providers and ensuring that only qualified and proficient employees are cleared for independent patient care duties.
Carolina First EMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.