Douglas dispatch is second in Nevada to achieve Emergency Medical Dispatch accreditation
Submitted by editor on Tue, 04/14/2015 - 12:05pm
Douglas County Dispatch recently achieved their accreditation for Emergency Medical Dispatch from the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch. The International Academy is the world’s largest leading standard-setting and certification body for emergency dispatch.
Douglas County 9-1-1 is the first all-risk center in the State of Nevada to achieve accreditation for medical dispatch. The IAED only recognizes the best of the best in the accreditation process. This accreditation means the center adheres to set policies and procedures and quality assurance protocols.
“The staff worked tremendously hard on this accomplishment and this achievement,” said Ron Sagen, director of Emergency Dispatch Services. “This accreditation means the people in Douglas County are receiving the best possible patient care; the correct questions are asked in the correct sequence to ensure the most appropriate resources are sent at the most appropriate response mode.”
The IAED protocol system is used in 42 countries in thousands of communications centers, however only 143 centers (Douglas County being the 143) has achieved the accreditation level for Emergency Medical Dispatch. The accreditation is granted based on the center demonstrating superior performance in training, quality assurance and improvement processes and/or management, and very high compliance to protocol.
The accreditation is also important to the Fire District in that it allows for more efficient distribution of its limited paramedical resources based on the information collected by the 9-1-1 dispatchers. It reduces some operational costs, reduces response liabilities, and provides almost instant access to the emergency medical system, with the 9-1-1 dispatcher being able to provide life-saving instructions to the caller.
“Ron’s efforts and his personnel are responsible for achieving the accreditation,” said Chief Tod Carlini of East Fork Fire. “There are specific performance requirements that must be met over an extended period of time. The accreditation is not just a snap shot of performance on any given day, but the same high level of performance every single day.”
The 9-1-1 dispatch team will receive official recognition and their award at the Navigator Conference (IAEDs annual conference) in Las Vegas on April 29 – May 1, 2015.
For more information on the IAED visit: www.emergencydispatch.org/AccredCurrentAces
