Communications Specialist | Careflight

Avera Open · verified Sep 9, 2026

Sioux Falls Full-time Mid-level Communications

Mid-level Communications role at Avera. Sioux Falls · full-time.

Role brief

Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.

What you'll do

Receive and coordinate Avera Careflight requests for air and ground patient transport
Track every transport while following FAA safety and CAMTS accreditation requirements
Activate crews, arrange ground services, and secure additional support for each transfer
Keep crews, facilities, agencies, and transport providers informed through radio, phone, and messaging
Update CAD records, provide arrival estimates, triage calls, and begin emergency procedures when needed

What you bring

A high school diploma or GED equivalent
IAMTCS Certified Flight Communicator or CommLink CFC certification within two years
Availability for rotating days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays
Clear communication, adequate visual acuity, and the ability to hear and distinguish speech
EMT or EMD experience, medical-field experience, or knowledge of geography and public safety procedures is preferred

Who this fits

This role suits you if you can coordinate medical transport activity, follow detailed procedures, read maps, and communicate effectively with multiple care and transport teams. You’ll work full time at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, with a rotating schedule that includes nights, weekends, and holidays. You must be able to meet the role’s communication and visual requirements.

From the employer

Location:

Avera McKennan Hospital

Worker Type:

Regular

Work Shift:

Rotating days/evenings/nights/weekends/holidays (United States of America)

Pay Range:

The pay range for this position is listed below. Actual pay rate dependent upon experience.

$20.75 - $27.50

Position Highlights

** May be eligible for a $1,000 sign-on bonus!

You Belong at Avera

Be part of a multidisciplinary team built with compassion and the goal of Moving Health Forward for you and our patients. Work where you matter.

A Brief Overview

Responsible for receiving and coordinating transport requests for Avera Careflight from multiple sources for both ground and air medical transport. The Communication Specialist is responsible for tracking all air medical and ground transports for Avera Careflight in accordance with FAA Safety and CAMTS accreditation standards. The Communication Specialist must effectively communicate with air medical crews, requesting and receiving agencies and entities, incoming aircraft, and ground transport service providers through a variety of modes such as radio, telephone, and pertinent messaging applications.

What you will do

Achieves and maintains a working knowledge of the EMS system and map reading, is able to follow emergency procedures for aircraft when applicable.
Achieves and maintains knowledge of all pertinent flight and ground transport policies, procedures and SOP’s.
Is responsible for activating all crews for flights, coordinating ground, and any additional services as needed to complete patient transport and care.
Maintains communication with medical crew to assure effective utilization of services according to policy, procedures and SOP’s. Provides accurate ETE of transport team to requesting and receiving facilities/agencies.
Triages incoming calls and re-appropriates transports according to policy.
Assures accurate documentation within the CAD system in accordance with FAA and CAMTS standards.
Follows established policy of flight and ground transport monitoring, and initiating emergency procedures if necessary per policy.
Maintains a working knowledge of communication equipment and applications.
Requests services as directed such as social services and pastoral care. Notify appropriate departments of patient disposition; assemble and prepare appropriate charts and forms.
Must comply with all duties and responsibilities of a Flight Locator/Communication specialist per MRIS, L.L.C General Operations Manual

Essential Qualifications

The individual must be able to work the hours specified. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily including having visual acuity adequate to perform position duties and the ability to communicate effectively with others, hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds. These requirements and those listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions, as long as the accommodations do not cause undue hardship to the employer.

Required Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience:

High School or GED Equivalent
Certified Flight Communicator - International Association of Medical Transport Communication Specialists (IAMTCS) within 2 Years or
Certified Flight Communicator (CFC) - CommLink within 2 Years

Preferred Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience:

EMT or EMD experience
Previous experience in medical field
General knowledge of codes, ordinances, regulations, geography and public safety procedures

Expectations and Standards

Commitment to the daily application of Avera’s mission, vision, core values, and social principles to serve patients, their families, and our community.
Promote Avera’s values of compassion, hospitality, and stewardship.
Uphold Avera’s standards of Communication, Attitude, Responsiveness, and Engagement (CARE) with enthusiasm and sincerity.
Maintain confidentiality.
Work effectively in a team environment, coordinating work flow with other team members and ensuring a productive and efficient environment.
Comply with safety principles, laws, regulations, and standards associated with, but not limited to, CMS, The Joint Commission, DHHS, and OSHA if applicable.

Benefits You Need & Then Some

Avera is proud to offer a wide range of benefits to qualifying part-time and full-time employees. We support you with opportunities to help live balanced, healthy lives. Benefits are designed to meet needs of today and into the future.

PTO available day 1 for eligible hires.
Up to 5% employer matching contribution for retirement
Career development guided by hands-on training and mentorship

Avera is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, Veteran Status, or other categories protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-605-504-4444 or send an email to talent@avera.org.