P.E.I.’s 911 dispatcher is receiving recognition as one of the highest-performing emergency agencies in the world.
Medacom Atlantic has been the 265th emergency dispatch centre in the world to attain the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) status as an accredited centre of excellence (ACE).
The company is one of 18 dispatch centres in Canada to receive the recognition, which was reached after implementing a medical priority dispatch system (MPDS).
Operations manager Amanda Landry said the company was thrilled with the accomplishment.
“Being recognized as just the 265th Medical Accredited Centre of Excellence in the world is a huge honor for Medacom Atlantic,” said Landry. “This is the culmination of a great amount of dedication and commitment by staff.”
Landry said achieving ACE status demonstrates the value of emergency dispatchers in P.E.I.’s chain of care, alongside other essential first responders and professionals.
“We are a vital link in the delivery of pre-hospital care,” she said. “Call-taking is a very difficult job, involving unique challenges that other first responders do not experience. Seeing our staff not only implement the MPDS but to thrive so quickly and overcome the many challenges makes me extremely proud. Seeing the accreditation plaque hanging in the communications centre will add a new level of credibility to the job our EMDs perform each time the phone rings.”
Since implementing the MPDS in August 2017, dispatchers have been able to provide instructions assisting callers with childbirths, CPR, Epi-pen and Narcan injections as well as other procedures.
ACE status inspires agencies to provide best practices in public safety and to employ efficient use of resources when handling all emergency call situations. Accreditation requires self-assessment based 20 accreditation points set out by IAED. Agencies must meet or exceed all 20 points.
The centre’s application is reviewed by the IAED’s board of accreditation, which also conducts an on-site visit.
There’s a tremendous amount of work that goes into achieving ACE status,” said IAED’s chair of accreditation Christof C. Chwojka. “We’re certainly proud of Medacom Atlantic and its accomplishment.”
Landry said the status can also bring peace of mind to Island residents who call for emergency assistance.
While many callers get frustrated by emergency dispatchers’ questions, Landry said those questions don’t slow response times but rather help to enhance care.
“Residents and callers can be assured that we have been recognized for our significant protocol compliance and the exemplary service we are providing to callers and patients, and that our EMDs will continue working hard in order to maintain this distinction,” she said.
