Team Rubicon International (TRI) is seeking volunteer Paramedics to support communities around the world prepare, respond, and recover from disasters and humanitarian crises. Duties may include providing care, including triage, treatment, and follow-up of patients; implementing protocols related to disease prevention and mitigation, such as universal precautions and basic hygiene standards; ensuring the quality and continuity of care for the affected population; collecting and documenting data in the patient medical record, and collecting and reporting data as appropriate to the in-country Ministry of Health and UN World Health Organization (WHO) i.e. during infectious disease outbreaks.
Applicants should excel in the provision of emergency care and a strong understanding of primary care in resource-limited environments. As a TRI Medical Team member, you may be called upon to provide direct care to impacted communities immediately following rapid onset disasters, to decompress overwhelmed medical facilities during infectious disease outbreaks and other humanitarian crises, and to build disaster response capacity with host nation medical staff in non-disaster settings.
You must be a leader and a follower. You will be expected to represent TR with a diverse group of stakeholders, including affected community members, the WHO, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), fellow non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local governments and healthcare providers, and existing/potential donors. You will be expected to develop a commanding knowledge of TR operations and WHO-verified Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Type-1 Mobile capability.
As a TRI Medical Provider, you will be expected to work in challenging, austere, and sometimes insecure environments. You must be physically capable and mentally resilient to navigate moderate to long distances on foot, work without access to electricity, and at times procure potable water. Inherent to this position is the willingness to deploy on a deliberately planned humanitarian operation or in response to a natural or man-made disaster in potentially austere or hazardous environments on shorter notice.
The TRI Medical Team is a highly selective opportunity for those willing to take a bold step into the unknown to serve vulnerable communities across the globe.
PARAMEDIC DUTIES
- Provide direct patient care as part of TR EMT Type-1 Mobile medical unit.
- Ensure accurate and timely daily reporting to TR International Field Leadership and TR Medical Leadership, as required. Carrying and supervising administrative procedures and documents (patient health records, forms, consumptions, statistics, registers, etc.), ensuring an appropriate written/oral handover, and reporting any problematic situations and cases that may arise. Always maintain Protected Health Information (PHI) and data.
- Knowing, promoting, implementing, and following up the universal hygiene standards/ precautions, biohazard prevention and infection control, security rules and other protocols and procedures in the medical premises and ensuring high standards of hygiene of his/her working environment.
- Providing care and implementing paramedic interventions according to medical provider prescriptions/orders, and assisting during cons. Participating in health education of the patient (and family) when necessary.
- Identifying Sexually Gender Based Violence victims and referring them to the medical team to receive the necessary treatment. Knowledge of post exposure prophylaxis protocols and use of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Kits.
- Ensuring patients are properly received and registered, and that those with lack of autonomy are assisted, especially regarding their feeding, personal hygiene, movements and comfort. Ensuring triage of patients in waiting areas during emergencies, detecting the priority acute/emergency cases, carrying out first aid care and referring them to the medical provider when necessary.
- Carrying out surveillance, follow-up of patients (i.e. assessment of the evolution of their state of health and the identification of any emergency situation or security deterioration) while at our clinic, and assist in transfer processes as needed.
- Participating in the pharmacy and medical equipment load-out, control and maintenance as requested (quality and its functioning, storage conditions, follow-up of expired drugs inventories, stock takes of medicines and material at every team changeover ensuring no material is removed or taken without prior authorization, etc.).
- Perform cleaning and minor maintenance for biomedical equipment used. Following the user manual and protocols and alert supervisor in case of malfunctioning.
GENERAL TEAM DUTIES
- Ensure accurate and timely daily reporting to TR International Field Leadership and TR Medical Leadership.
- Represent TR to foreign/host governments, international organizations (e.g. WHO, UNOCHA), US Government (USG) Agencies, existing or potential donors, and media outlets.
- Be accountable for all TR equipment, including EMT formulary.
- Provide operational feedback that assists in development of standards, policies, and processes for response, recovery, and DRR programming.
- Ensure Duty of Care to the deploying team, including monitoring and adapting to changes in security situations, team heath, welfare, and morale.
- Ensure compliance of all activities in accordance with TR policies, including Safeguarding, and other relevant USG and other donor rules and regulations as required.
- Be prepared to work with or under the leadership of local medical staff during disaster response and DRR programs.
- Effectively and ethically execute the protocols of Team Rubicon International and enhance our ability to respond rapidly to disasters, infectious disease outbreaks, and humanitarian crises.
EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND
- Minimum of 2 years as a pre-hospital paramedic.
- Any experience working in emergency department, highly desirable.
- US passport and US state driver’s license required.
- Must possess current National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Certification as a Paramedic (NREMT-P). Registration must be valid (for at least 6 months) prior to deployment and remain valid throughout the period of deployment.
- Hold and maintain a current Paramedic license or certificate from country of origin.
- Current certifications in Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), CPR (BLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
- Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), Emergency Pediatric Care (EPC) and Critical Care Transport (CCT), highly desirable.
- Be continually flexible in an ever-changing environment.
- Demonstrated experience in austere/challenging environments within the past 5 years.
- Successful past performance in a team-based organization.
- Confident international traveler with an open mind to new cultures.
- Adaptable mindset to train effectively for the audience.
- Experience working in rural, low-resource settings.
- Experience working with and serving people of diverse backgrounds.
Special Requirements:
- Non-traditional work schedule may include some evenings and weekends.
- Aptitudes required for work of this nature are good physical stamina, endurance, and body condition that would not be adversely affected by frequently having to walk, stand, lift, carry, and balance different types of equipment and other objects.
- Meet WHO vaccination requirements, including COVID-19.
- Cleared background check and internal Team Rubicon International vetting process.
- Willingness to live in an environment with no electricity or running water, and without requirement of life enhancing devices (CPAP, etc.).
- Physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of operating in demanding environments.
- Languages: Fluent in English.
JOB TYPE:
- Volunteer
TRI VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to commit to a minimum 2-week international deployment obligation
- Able to engage in planning, debrief, and support meetings for mobilization and operations
- Must have a US or Canadian passport with six months validity from date of departure
- Meet WHO vaccination requirements, including COVID-19
- Cleared TR background check
- Ability to live in an environment with no electricity or running water, and without requirement of life enhancing devices (CPAP, etc.)
- Physically capable of operating in demanding environments and able to pass a 45 lbs. 3-mile pack test in under 1 hour.
DESIRED COMPETENCIES
- Adaptable: Ability to handle rapidly changing circumstances and parameters.
- Humble: Ability to move seamlessly from leader to follower–check your ego at the door.
- Resilient: Ability to tolerate stress, receive and respond to criticism, and function in a physically demanding environment.
- Flexible: Ability to provide care in a variety of environments, including ambulatory operations, mobile clinics, and resource-limited environments.
- Honest: Must be trusted to work in remote and often minimally supervised environments. Must be aware of one’s abilities and personal limits. Professional responsibility and accountability are paramount.
- Selfless: Team over self. Social and interpersonal skills that support rapport building with TR members, partner organizations, and institutional donors are vital.
- Knowledgeable: Must understand disasters and the humanitarian impacts, basic assessment of disaster situations, and emergency care in immediate post-disaster setting, as well as maintain the ability to assimilate and interpret important information during disasters. Must also possess the ability to understand local medical/health service needs quickly, including the need to support vulnerable populations such children, older persons, pregnant women, postpartum mothers, and people with mental and/or physical disabilities, etc.
- Empathetic: Ability to understand the impact of disasters on the health and wellbeing of populations, acknowledge the importance of population health maintenance, and the needs of affected populations and those with chronic medical problems in disaster-settings.
- Culturally Adept: International operations require individuals that are knowledgeable and understanding of cultures, customs or traditions that are unlike their own.
CULTURAL PRINCIPLES
- Mission First, Greyshirt Always: Anyone joining TR must understand that our mission to provide disaster response comes first
- Step into the Arena: TR needs leaders who aren’t afraid to dare to be great
- Everyone Has A Role Know It: Ability to successfully navigate a fast-paced, high-growth environment and solve problems in the face of ambiguity
- GSD: We are entrepreneurial, resourceful and determined no matter how chaotic the situation
- Change Your Socks: We take care of ourselves and each other so we are best equipped to serve those in greatest need
- Adults Only: Every team member is an adult until proven otherwise
- Your Mother’s A Donor: Every leader must be committed to fiduciary responsibility, transparency and financial stewardship
