Benchmarking for Public Safety Communication Centers (PSCCs) is relatively new. Recently, professional associations have been working on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to identify a number of performance metrics for call taking, dispatching, technology, quality assurance and administration.
Large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke is the most severe form of ischemic stroke. Early recognition of LVO stroke by EMD could reduce time-to-treatment and improve patient outcomes. With the most recent versions of the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS), EMD use its Stroke Diagnostic Tool (SDxT) to assess patients when a stroke is suspected.
High job demands mean high turnover for public safety telecommunicators (also known as: 9-1-1 call-operators or emergency dispatch). Personnel turnover place 9-1-1 call centers in an understaffed situation, which also reduces operational effectiveness and risk to communities.
At the start of the pandemic in 2020, all non-essential businesses closed, including swim lessons. When Florida reopened, tourists quickly resumed visiting. Osceola County, located in Central Florida, noticed an influx of drowning and near-drowning calls. Several agencies and organizations reported an increase of drownings in 2021, up to 98 from 69 in 20201. In addition to the COVID-related stress, the drownings were taking their toll on first responders’ mental health.
Emergency medical services require the accuracy of priority dispatching to optimize the match between patients' medical needs, prehospital resources, and maintaining patient safety. When ambulances are traveling with Lights/Sirens rather than with other vehicles' flow and speed on the road, they place themselves and the public at a higher risk.
Police officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical personnel are recognized for their hard work as on-scene responders, however the role of emergency dispatch is easily overlooked. The stressors that are seen in emergency responder work are also experienced by emergency dispatchers. While they are not experiencing these emergencies directly, this presents unique struggles for them.
The occupational demands of public safety communicators has led to conditions such as high levels of stress, anxiety and PTSD1-4
The primary objective of this study was to determine the ability of an Emergency Communication Nurse (ECN) to appropriately identify the Abdominal Pain Chief Complaint Protocol to use to triage patients in low-acuity cases. The secondary objectives were to establish the most frequently used primary triage code (Medical Priority Dispatch System™ (MPDS®) Determinant Codes), triggering the use of the Abdominal Pain Chief Complaint Protocol in the Emergency Communication Nurse System™ (ECNS™), as well as the percentage of these calls resulting in a Recommended Care Level (RCL) of “emergency a
The overall objective of the study was to determine whether layperson callers can effectively stop simulated bleeding using an improvised or a commercial tourniquet, when provided with scripted instructions via phone from a trained protocol-aided EMD.
Studies have cited dispatcher claims of significant emotional, mental, and physical stress as a result of their work, however, there is very little literature that ranks in order of prevalence or severity the factors contributing to overall stress specific to emergency dispatchers. The aim of this study is to collect data that will complement other research findings in this field to inform the development of new programs designed to address specific factors contributing to dispatch stress and build better psychological health among this group.