Wayne County 911 has announced the implementation of the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) to better serve the residents of Wayne County in emergency situations.
With this new system, emergency dispatchers will follow nationally recognized standards and research-based protocols to identify life-threatening situations and to safely prioritize calls for response. The protocols guide emergency dispatchers through a series of questions they ask callers in order to identify the problems so they can send the correct help.
Emergency dispatchers will also use the questions to provide responders with accurate information so they can more effectively give care once they’re on the scene. Additionally, with the MPDS®, emergency dispatchers can provide lifesaving and safety instructions to callers and patients before responders arrive. For example, emergency dispatchers can now instruct a caller on performing CPR until an EMS unit arrives.
The Priority Dispatch System™ includes specialized software and/or cardsets, a three-day certification training course for emergency dispatchers, and continual quality improvement benchmarks and training. All emergency dispatchers who work on the new system are certified by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch® (IAED™) and must recertify every two years, complete 24 hours of continuing dispatch education (CDE) and pass all requirements for IAED recertification.
“At the IAED, our goal is to help the emergency dispatcher do his or her job better,” said Dr. Jeff Clawson, Chair, Rules Committee for the IAED Medical Council of Standards. “This system increases safety and effectiveness for the first responders and creates better outcomes for callers.”
The constantly evolving PDS will help provide the highest standard of care to the community, allowing Emergency Medical Dispatchers to better manage resources and increase the accuracy and efficiency of the dispatching process.
“We are excited to be able to bring Emergency Medical Dispatch to Wayne County for the first time,” said Chris Barnes, 911 Communications Manager. “This program will allow residents to have additional peace of mind that your 911 center staff can handle a crisis with timeliness and expert care.”
