ShandsCair Communication Specialist | ShandsCair | PRN |

Overview

Position Summary

The Communications Specialist coordinates both routine and emergency air and ground medical transportation requests. Working as part of a team, this role supports helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, and ground ambulance operations to help ensure patients receive timely and appropriate transport services.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will:

• Stay calm and professional in high-pressure situations
• Have strong attention to detail
• Be able to multitask effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Maintain awareness of multiple active transport missions at the same time
• Communicate clearly and work well as part of a team

Training & Compliance

• Must complete required Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) crew resource management and flight emergency training
• Must comply with all Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS) standards for Communications Specialists

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Receive and coordinate requests for air and ground medical transport services

• Use computer-aided dispatch (CAD) software to identify and assign the closest appropriate transport resource

• Communicate with transport teams using radio and telephone systems

• Monitor and track aircraft and ambulance missions from start to finish

• Provide operational support throughout each mission to help ensure successful completion

• Receive patient reports from EMS units transporting patients into the UF Health Shands system

• Process emergency hospital activation requests, including:

• Stroke alerts

• STEMI alerts

• Trauma alerts

• Work closely with internal and external clinical teams during emergency situations

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Knowledge of medical terminology preferred
• Basic understanding of communication equipment, including telephones, radios, and recording systems
• Knowledge of navigational terms is helpful, but not required
• Preferred experience:
• At least 1 year of dispatch experience in an EMS, 911, or aviation environment, or
• At least 1 year of experience working in a 911 center or hospital setting

Vehicle Operation

• This position does not require operating a vehicle for work-related purposes

Required Certifications

Applicants must hold one of the following current certifications:

• Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) certification
• Florida 911 Public Safety Telecommunicator certification
• Florida EMT-Basic certification
• Florida Paramedic certification

In addition, the following certification is required within 1 year of hire:

• International Association of Medical Transport Communication Specialists (IAMTCS) Certified Flight Communications Specialist certification