What are the responsibilities and job description for the MEDCOM Communications Specialist position at The Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia?
Whensecondsmatter and coordinationsaveslives, MEDCOM is the nerve center that keeps care moving. As an Emergency Medical Transport Dispatcher at UVA Health, your clinical background and operational judgment directly support safe,timelypatientmovement across one of Virginia's most advanced academic health systems.
This is a role for experienced EMTs and Paramedics who want to extend their impact beyond the field, applying clinical insight, calmdecision making, andsystem levelthinking in ahighreliabilitycommand environment.
The Role
MEDCOM serves as the centralized hub for emergency andnonemergencymedical transport coordination across UVA Health. As a dispatcher, you translate clinical urgency into precise action, ensuring the right resources move at the right time for the right patient.
Your work blends clinical awareness with operational control and includes:
Coordinatingmedical transport requestsacross inpatient, emergency, and specialty servicesfor multiple hospitals.
Applying EMT or Paramedic clinical knowledge toprioritize transport needsand assess acuity
Communicating clearly and professionally with EMS crews, hospital teams, and external partners
Managing multiple requests simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and situational awareness
Documenting transport activity and decisions in real time using established systems and protocols
Supporting patient safety through effective handoffs, escalation, and problem resolution
What an average day looks like
You will work in afast pacedcommunications center where conditions shift quickly. Calls vary from routine transfers totimesensitive;highacuitymovements requiring decisive coordination. The pace is steady, the expectations are high, and the impact of your decisions is immediate and measurable across the care continuum.
This role rewards professionals who remain composed under pressure, think several steps ahead, and understand how operational excellence supports clinical outcomes.
Why UVA Health
UVA Health is anationally recognized academic medical centerwhere complex care demands seamless coordination behind the scenes. MEDCOM plays a strategically vital role in ensuring patients receive the right level of care at the right location, without delay.
Whydoexperienced EMS professionals choose UVA Health for this work:
Practice within alarge, integrated health systemthat includes a Level I Trauma Center and highly specialized inpatient services
Be part of amission drivenorganization committed topatient safety, reliability, and clinical excellence
Work in a role whereEMS expertise is respected and essential, not secondary
Gain exposure tosystemwideoperations that broaden career pathways beyond traditional field roles
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams who rely on MEDCOM as a trusted operational partner
Additional highlights include:
Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates
Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
A stable, professional environment designed forlong-termcareer sustainability
The opportunity to influence care delivery at a systems level while remaining clinically connected
This position is critical to UVA Health's ability to move patients safely and efficiently across a complex care network.
Why People Love Living in Charlottesville
Charlottesville offers a rare combination of professional opportunity and quality of life. Set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the area provides easy access to hiking,cycling, and outdoor recreation alongside a vibrant food, arts, and music scene. Thecommunity is welcoming, the cost of living is more approachable than larger metro regions, and the pace of life supports balance for healthcare professionals and their families. For thoserelocatingfrom busier markets or demanding field roles, Charlottesville offers room to breathe without stepping away from meaningful,high impactwork.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: High School diploma/GED required
Experience: Communications center experience and/or basic dispatcher course/dispatch experience preferred.
Licensure/Certifications: Certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in the Commonwealth of Virginia required. AHA Health Care Provider BLS CPR certification required.
Physical Demands - Job requires sitting for prolonged periods, frequently typing/traveling and multi-tasking activities. Proficient communicative, auditory and visual skills; Attention to detail and ability to write legibly; Ability to lift/push/pull > 20lbs. May be exposed to fumes, heat, noise, High-stress environment and environment prone to high-capacity sensory stimulation.
Onboarding Requirements
Background checks and pre-employment health screenings will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment. All safety-sensitive positions with direct patient interaction also require a drug screen.
The pay range for this role is $18.00 - $30.14 hourly. Individual compensation will be determined by the selected candidate's qualifications, previous work experience, and/or education.Benefits
Comprehensive Benefits Package: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
Paid Time Off, Long-term and Short-term Disability, Retirement Savings
Health Saving Plans, and Flexible Spending Accounts
Certification and education support
Generous Paid Time Off
UVA Health is a world-class Magnet Recognized academic medical center and health system with a level 1 trauma center. 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" guide rates UVA Health University Medical Center as "High Performing" in 5 adult specialties and 14 conditions/procedures. We are one of 70 National Cancer Institute designated cancer centers. UVA Health Children's is named by 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report as the best children's hospital in Virginia with 9 specialties ranked among the best in the nation. Our footprint also encompasses 3 community hospitals and an integrated network of primary and specialty care clinics throughout Charlottesville, Culpeper, Northern Virginia, and beyond.
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.
The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.
Salary : $18 - $30