The Paramedic's job function is to transport sick and injured persons by ambulance in a manner conducive to their safety and comfort and to administer Advanced Life Support level pre-hospital care and treatment within the limits defined by the State of Ohio law and North Central EMS’ Medical Director.

Additional benefits include:

• A, B, and C shift rotations; 24 hours on, 48 hours off
• Sign on bonus for medics
• Referral bonus
• Monthly paid continuing education
• Paid ACLS, PALS, NRP, and CPR training
• Yearly uniform allowance

The EMT-A job function is to transport sick and injured persons by ambulance in a manner conducive to their safety and comfort. They are to administer Basic and Advanced Life Support level pre-hospital care and treatment within the limits defined by the State of Ohio law and North Central EMS’ Medical Director.

The advanced EMT is an extension of the EMT and must initially and continually, utilize basic EMT level skills on every call he or she is involved in. Therefore the "Emergency Medical Technician" job classification duties and responsibilities are adopted into the "Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic" job classification and specific paramedic level duties will only be presented further.

Additional benefits include:

• A, B, and C shift rotations; 24 hours on, 48 hours off
• Referral bonus
• Medic Scholarship for full-time EMT-A
• Monthly paid continuing education
• Paid NRP and CPR training
• Yearly uniform allowance

The EMT-B's job function is to transport sick and injured persons by ambulance in a manner conducive to their safety and comfort. They are to administer Basic and Advanced Life Support level pre-hospital care and treatment within the limits defined by the State of Ohio law and North Central EMS’ Medical Director.

Additional benefits include:

• A, B, and C shift rotations; 24 hours on, 48 hours off
• Referral bonus
• Medic Scholarship for full-time EMT-B
• Monthly paid continuing education
• Paid NRP and CPR training
• Yearly uniform allowance

The purpose of the Paramedic Financial Incentive Program is to:

• Establish a financial incentive program that encourages employee development and a long-term career with North Central EMS.
• Incentivize learning and expanding the application of paramedic skills to broaden employee capabilities, knowledge, and overall performance.
• Empower team members to drive their own growth within the department.

This plan will be made up of three tiered levels, each which consist of a set of minimum requirements, including years of service at North Central EMS. Each tier achieved will have an assigned hourly differential associated with it that will be added to the employee’s base pay.

• Class A Paramedic Tier 1
  • Minimum 2 years of employment as a Paramedic at North Central EMS
  • Minimum 1 year at Class A Status
  • Minimum of 50 completed ALS runs year prior
  • Completion of annual competency day
  • Chart Review
• Class A Paramedic Tier 2
  • Minimum 5 years of employment as a Paramedic at North Central EMS
  • Minimum 1 year at Class A Status
  • Minimum of 50 completed ALS runs year prior
  • Completion of annual competency day
  • Chart Review
• Class A Paramedic Tier 3
  • Minimum 10 years of employment as a Paramedic at North Central EMS
  • Minimum 1 year at Class A Status
  • Minimum of 50 completed ALS runs year prior
  • Completion of annual competency day
  • Chart Review

• The minimum years of employment as a paramedic at North Central EMS must be complete prior to the review period.  Each employee will be reviewed for eligibility January 1st and July 1st of each year.  The employee is not required to be a Class A Paramedic each of the minimum years of employment at North Central EMS but is required to be a paramedic for each of those qualifying years. Years of PRN and part-time status as a paramedic count toward years of employment such that the employee is a Class A Paramedic for one full-year prior to the review period.
• Years of employment in other positions at NCEMS (EMT-B, driver, dispatch, etc.) do not count toward the minimum years of employment, unless the employee held an active paramedic certification during that time (example:  dispatch).
• To be eligible the employee must be a Class A Paramedic and maintain Class A Status as well as Full-Time status for a full year prior to qualify.  If an employee discontinues their Class A Paramedic status and/or reduces their hours worked their hourly differential will be immediately discontinued.
• To be eligible the employee must remain in good standing regarding attendance and performance.  Good Standing is defined as receiving a Final Warning in the past 12 months, not having an attendance corrective action in the past 12 months and having a performance score of 2.5 or greater on the most recent appraisal.
• The employee must continue to meet all the requirements to maintain their Class A Status, including but not limited to completing reports prior to the end of their shift, completion of shift duties, etc.
• The employee may not enter into a Performance Improvement Plan during the program calendar year.  If employee enters into a PIP during the program year the associated premium will be discontinued.  The employee will be eligible the next calendar year such that the PIP has been discontinued.
• The annual competency day will be a pre-scheduled 8-hour skills review with MetroHealth Medical Direction.  The day will include hands-on training and review of advanced paramedic skills.
• Chart review will be completed by the Medical Director.  All high acuity calls (stroke, STEMI, and level 1 traumas) will be reviewed in addition to a random sample of 10 charts from the prior 6 months.  The Medical Director will evaluate each chart for appropriate triaging, completeness, thoroughness, and clinical precision.  It is at the discretion of the Medical Director if the paramedic is charting sufficiently and following clinical protocols to earn the shift differential.
• The employee must complete a minimum of 50 ALS runs (emergent and non-emergent combined) the year prior to entering the program.  If the employee does not meet the minimum number of ALS runs during the previous 12 months they will not qualify for the shift differential the following year.
• This program places the responsibility of growth on the employee.  Discretionary effort and determination will be considered.

Cathy Robustellini started her career as an emergency medical technician (EMT) in January 1980 after attending classes at EHOVE. Upon receiving her certification, Cathy began working for Norwalk Ambulance Service. This was a very part-time position where the scheduled Driver/EMT had the squad at their residence and when a call came in, they responded to their scheduled partner's residence, picked them up, and responded to the scene.

In 1984, Cathy attended classes and completed her Advanced EMT Certification. In April of that year, Milan Fire/EMS and Norwalk Ambulance joined forces, spear-headed through Fisher Titus, and became North Central EMS— the brainchild of Mr. Pat Martin, former President & CEO of Fisher-Titus. She joined the newly-established North Central EMS and became a paramedic in 1988. Today, Cathy is the only full-time employee that has been with North Central since its inception 34 years ago.

"I am not sure what motivated me to become part of EMS," said Cathy. "Before working as a full-time EMT, I worked as a legal secretary in Norwalk. While working in the legal field, I had many friends in law enforcement— many of them also worked part time for Norwalk Ambulance. I was intrigued. I had a desire to help people, that was the way I was raised. If someone needed something, you helped them. Being in EMS, you gain many friends. You work 24-hour shifts, often with the same person every third day. Your partner becomes your family."

Cathy has many awesome memories. Some as amazing as delivering four healthy baby boys, and some that were the worst days of someone's life.

"Those are the days that we learn the most from," said Cathy. "That we have to pick ourselves up and just move forward. I have cried and prayed with family members; I am not ashamed of that."

About 32 years ago, Cathy became a CPR Instructor through The American Heart Association and, under Fisher-Titus as a Training Center, North Central EMS became a training site. Being able to teach members of our community how to help others and save lives speaks volumes.

"I never realized the domino effect that teaching life-saving skills would have. But my biggest passion is probably the kids," said Cathy.

She began teaching Safety Town to kids that would soon be going to Kindergarten in Greenwich about 15 years ago. Cathy says this is an excellent time to fill their little brains with knowledge about being safe and that EMS, Fire, Police and K-9 units are their "safe" friends. Children have the opportunity to learn many things from these first responders including "Stranger Danger" and making smart choices. They also can to take their first school bus ride while learning about bicycle, playground, and railroad safety. Cathy has watched many of these children grow up, graduate, and become young adults.

"If I had to do all of this all over again, I wouldn't change a thing, said Cathy. "I truly love my job and my company."