On November 1, 2010, the Boone County Communication Center (911 Center) implemented Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD). One of the goals behind EMD is to provide screening of the patient condition and then dispatch appropriate emergency services at the proper response level.
As expected, Boone County Hospital Ambulance has seen the emergency responses decrease and the non-emergency responses increase. With the reduction of emergency calls, the Ambulance Department will reduce the risk of auto accidents while en-route to the scene since there will be no lights and sirens, the wear and tear on the ambulances, and the number of times a second and/or third ambulance crew is called. “Overall, EMD provides a tremendous reduction in emergency responses, thus provides staff and the public safety,” says Lou Greco, Ambulance Director. “Without the support and expertise training of the 911 Center staff, implementation of EMD would not have been accomplished,” he says. |