Emergency Medical Telecommunicator remains a fast-changing role in pre-hospital medicine. Some research has been carried out that examines call-taking, dispatch protocols, and stress levels.
Jason and Kathy Lott, founders of the Thin Gold Line Foundation, talk about Jason’s experience as an emergency dispatcher with PTSD and the resources their organization provides for other dispatchers.
The present study obtained subjective input from emergency telecommunicators regarding their greatest work-related stressors according to five categories: 911 calls, radio traffic, interactions with coworkers, interactions with management, and work-life balance. In addition, this study obtained emergency telecommunicators’ subjective ideas for prevention and intervention strategies that they would like to have implemented in the workplace, at home, and in the community.
Dr. Paul Bourgeois, PhD, CRC, NCC, and Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs at the University of New Haven, discusses his research into emergency dispatcher mental health. He talks about parallels between emergency dispatchers and counselors as well as first steps in improving the mental health climate in your agency.
Danissa Alston, Montgomery County Maryland 9-1-1 Communication Center’s staff social worker, discusses how mental health and body health are connected and what you can do today to reduce your stress levels.
Chaplain Russell Myers, Allina Health EMS, talks about the role of chaplains in EMS and emergency dispatch. He discusses research he's conducted about the most stressful EMS calls as well as things to consider when deciding whether to bring a chaplain into your center...
There is now substantial research literature on the occupational stress among emergency dispatchers from multiple studies that 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...