Emergency medical dispatch

In the past 30 years, emergency medical dispatch (EMD) has become recognized as an essential component of the chain of survival. At its core, EMD provides a means of discerning as quickly as possible whether requests for medical aid involve life-threatening situations that require the fastest possible response. Conversely, EMD seeks to preserve the finite resources of emergency medical services (EMS) by prioritizing their assignments relative to immediacy of need. Improved dispatch training and protocols now allow telecommunications professionals to safely provide care and support well before the arrival of traditional EMS responders. EMD must be performed with due regard to training and adherence to protocol to avoid liability, as several recent verdicts have demonstrated. The challenge imposed by expanding wireless technology and healthcare finance reform is providing incentive for the rapid evolution of EMD. For many reasons, it is essential that EMS medical directors understand and participate in this crucial component of the healthcare safety net.