DCH Puts Out Call For Nurses, Paramedics To Be Vaccine Providers

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — DCH Health System this week announced it is looking for individuals with a current Alabama RN, LPN or paramedic license to work as per diem or temporary vaccination providers as the hospital system expects to receive its first shipments of the Pfizer vaccine soon.

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According to the job description, medical administration experience is required and the candidate must be competent in intramuscular (IM) injections. Applicants must also be able to calculate medication dosages, in addition to being able to recognize critical changes in patient conditions regarding symptoms of anaphylaxis.

The vaccination provider position will be available at both Northport and Tuscaloosa DCH locations.

Patch previously reported DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa had been selected by the Alabama Department of Public Health as one of the first facilities in the region to administer COVID-19 vaccines, primarily due to its ability to store the vaccine at the necessary low temperatures.

The vaccine will be made available not a moment too soon, especially as new cases and hospitalizations spike at alarming levels locally. On Monday, DCH Health System reported treating 154 inpatients, with 32 in intensive care units.

What's more, a total of 19 inpatients who were positive for COVID-19 have died at DCH over the last week, bringing the cumulative total to 298 deaths of coronavirus-positive patients, with 140 Tuscaloosa residents dying after testing positive. It's important to note that the health system serves an 11-county region and the the numbers are not an indication of the cause of death, rather that the individuals were positive for COVID-19 at the time of death.

The hospital system has said it will utilize prioritization recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the Alabama Department of Public Health for their vaccine.

DCH Vice President of Marketing and Communications Andy North previously said the first phase would see vaccinations offered to frontline healthcare workers and first responders, while the second phase, to his understanding, would come several months into the new year and be offered to the elderly and those classified as high-risk, before then being made available to the wider public.

With the new vaccine on its way to Tuscaloosa, DCH also hopes to utilize its new $1 million testing facility — paid for by CARES Act funds — to serve as a distribution point.

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