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Chapter 10 - Emergency Medical Services Dispatcher

This chapter identifies the minimum training requirements for a Telecommunicator who serves as an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Dispatcher (within this chapter referred to as EMS Dispatcher). The function of an Emergency Medical Services Dispatcher is to provide dispatch services by analyzing, prioritizing, and processing calls while maintaining radio contact with responders to ensure safe, efficient, and effective responses to calls for emergency medical services, in accordance with local, state, and national standards. An EMS Dispatcher may receive calls for service by incoming telephone calls, CAD incidents, radio traffic, and other methods or developing technologies. Note: This does not address Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD).

Only agencies that train EMS Dispatchers or provide dispatch services as described above are required to complete this section.

→ Read this chapter's full standards definition.

10.2

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the ability to analyze calls for service and determine the appropriate response action. Provide any training materials related and testing methodology used to demonstrate the ability to analyze calls for service and determine action.

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10.2.1

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the comprehension of agency documentation requirements and the ability to create and update the CAD record or incident log, maintain accurate call narrative or documentation. Provide training materials related and testing methodology used to demonstrate comprehension of documentation requirements and ability to update CAD record or incident log and maintain accuracy.

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10.2.2

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the ability to determine the nature and priority of incidents and assign available resources in accordance with Agency written directives. Provide training materials related and testing methodology used to demonstrate the ability to determine nature and priority of incidents and assign resources.

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10.2.3

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate proficiency in tracking and documenting radio activity, incident, and unit status within written directives. Provide training materials related and testing methodology used to demonstrate proficiency in tracking and documenting radio activity, incident, and unit status.

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10.3

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate proficiency in assigning and coordinating responders to incidents based on the nature of the incident, the priority of the incident, available resources, and Agency written directives. Provide training materials related and testing methodology used to demonstrate proficiency in assigning and coordinating responders.

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10.3.1

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the ability to consistently identify, analyze, and relay initial pertinent incident information to field units as appropriate. Provide training materials related and testing methodology used to demonstrate the ability to consistently identify, analyze, and relay incident information to field units.

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10.3.2

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the ability to obtain acknowledgement of calls for service from responders as per written directives. Provide training materials related and testing methodology used to demonstrate the ability to obtain acknowledgement from responders.

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10.3.3

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the ability to evaluate information and relay updates to responding units as appropriate. Provide training materials related and testing methodology used to demonstrate the ability to evaluate information and relay updates to responding units.

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10.3.4

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the ability to analyze and disseminate information to additional responders and resources including, but not limited to Hazmat teams, the Forest Service, Fire Services, Law Enforcement, etc. Provide training materials related and testing methodology used to demonstrate the ability to analyze and disseminate information.

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10.3.5

The EMS Dispatcher shall apply agency procedures for monitoring and documenting hospital diversion status and emergency facility availability. Provide training material related and testing methodology used to demonstrate application of agency procedures for monitoring and documenting diversion status and facility availability.

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10.4

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the ability to analyze and evaluate all available information in order to identify the potential for escalation of the incident and perform status checks to determine scene and responder safety. Provide training materials related and testing methodology used to demonstrate the ability to analyze and evaluate information in order to identify potential for escalation and perform status checks to determine safety at scene and responder.

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10.5

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the proper application of Agency notification guidelines to daily operations and special events. Provide training materials related and testing methodology to demonstrate proper application of agency notification guidelines.

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10.6

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the ability to coordinate with other entities in accordance with written directives. Provide training materials related and testing methodology demonstrating the ability to coordinate with other entities.

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10.7

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the proper application of Agency defined mutual aid procedures. Provide training materials related and testing methodology to demonstrate the proper application of agency defined mutual aid procedures.

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10.8

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the ability to identify and relay pertinent shift activities to relief dispatchers at shift or position change. Provide training materials related and testing methodology to demonstrate the ability to identify and relay shift activities to a relief dispatcher.

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10.9

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the ability to coordinate assigned radio channels and/or talk groups. Provide training materials related and testing methodology used to demonstrate the ability to coordinate radio channels/talk groups.

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10.10

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the ability to acknowledge and monitor radio traffic on assigned channels. Provide training materials related and testing methodology used to demonstrate the ability to monitor and acknowledge radio traffic.

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10.11

The EMS Dispatcher shall comply with regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that directly apply to public safety radio. Provide training materials related to public safety radio FCC regulations.

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10.12

The EMS Dispatcher shall demonstrate the ability to fulfill their role in ICS, NIMS and state and local emergency operations plans.

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10.13

The EMS Dispatcher shall participate in all Agency defined post-incident activities.

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