Medical Dispatch Site Evaluation and Needs Assessment for Comprehensive Implementation of the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) and National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch (NAEMD) Accreditation Eligibility

The purpose of a site evaluation is to provide your agency with an evaluation of your current emergency medical dispatch system. To accomplish this, Medical Priority Consultants (MPC) will conduct a thorough system evaluation to determine the most appropriate strategy for full implementation of the MPDS within your medical operation and to identify goals that need to be achieved for accreditation as a medical dispatch Center of Excellence from the NAEMD.

This comprehensive assessment of the operation includes a review of the system demographics, human resources, medical control, role of EMS in dispatch facilities and ergonomics, technical CAD support, data management, dispatcher selection, orientation and training practices, communications operations, policies and procedures, quality assurance functions and risk management. This requires an on site evaluation involving a series of in depth interviews with key individuals in the communication and EMS divisions; medical control physician, key management officials, system administrators, supervisors, educators and dispatchers. We will assess current emergency medical dispatch methods including interrogation and pre-arrival instructions, EMS unit allocation, call processing times and general management practices as they relate to emergency medical dispatch activities.

MPC obtains as much information as possible about local issues of concern prior to the actual site visit. We also collect some specific demographic and statistical data to allow us to pre plan the visit. This information is gathered through the use of survey instruments that the agency is requested to complete and return to MPC prior to the visit. During the site evaluation our attention focuses on training and quality assurance issues, the medical appropriateness of dispatch policies, procedures and practice using a comprehensive system approach to EMS dispatch evaluation. The site evaluation ends optionally with an oral report of findings and unofficial recommendations. Subsequently, a final written report regarding our specific findings and recommendations for effectively addressing EMS dispatch issues is submitted if requested.

MPC's practical consulting experience, foreign language protocols, expert legal advice, training tens of thousands of EMDs, coupled with informal and formal evaluations and reviews of hundreds of communication centers throughout the world enables us to apply our expertise to the unique needs and situations that exist in any community. Through proven management strategies, system design, quality improvement procedures, phased MPDS implementation, and computerized protocol applications, MPC aids EMS dispatch centers in achieving their highest performance and service goals. Our systems have driven the development of national standard documents for medical dispatch produced by the National Association of emergency Medical Services (NAEMSP), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Copies of these documents are available upon request.

MPC's experience in EMS communications evaluation, consultation and MPDS implementation is unparalleled in the industry. Our long history of involvement in the field of emergency medical dispatch and communications has enabled us to gain a unique degree of knowledge and insight regarding the safe and efficient operations of a modern EMD system. The MPDS consists of training for managers, supervisors, educators, quality assurance, and line dispatcher personnel. The system also provides for protocol based medically correct caller interrogation and pre-arrival instruction scripts, user defined pre-determined unit response selections and modes, formalized quality assurance and risk management processes and support from the NAEMD.

Please contact your client service representative if you would like additional information regarding an MPC site evaluation and needs assessment. We look forward to hearing from you.