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Council approves converting vacant EMT slot to full-time paramedic to retain trained staff
Summary
County commissioners unanimously approved converting a vacant EMT position into a paramedic slot to hire a newly certified part-time employee full time; net recurring cost estimated at about $8,000 a year.
County commissioners voted to allow the emergency medical services director to convert a vacant EMT position into a full-time paramedic opening to retain a newly certified staff member who recently completed paramedic training.
Background and staffing: the EMS presenter said the department currently staffs every ambulance shift with an EMT and a paramedic; a part-time employee recently completed paramedic certification and expressed interest in joining full time. The department said it has two vacant EMT positions; converting one to a paramedic would not increase headcount but would alter the position classification.
Cost and operational impact: presenters estimated the annual payroll difference between an EMT and a paramedic at about $8,000 per year; overtime and benefits effects were described as nominal because the converted post is still a full-time slot. The presenter said the change will leave them short roughly a half shift in coverage that staff will cover through schedule adjustments and part-time backfill.
Action: a motion to permit the EMS director (Chris) to trade an EMT vacancy for a paramedic position was made, seconded and carried unanimously. The speaker said the department will adjust schedules and use part-time staff to backfill resulting gaps and will monitor overtime costs.
