Dispatching a Medical Call

The Call Taker enters the patient information in the computer, it flashes in color on the emergency medical (EMS) dispatcher's screen indicating a level of severity. Instantly the dispatcher views the type and location of the call. Next they verify the address location to determine which Quick Response Vehicle (QRV), First Responder, and Ambulance zone is needed.

The Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System indicates who to send and how fast they should go to get there. This system is set up under the Emergency Medical Dispatch Protocol and by our Medical Director from Cape Fear Valley Hospital in consideration of Cumberland County's resources and their strategic locations.

The EMS dispatcher then dispatches the closest unit available in that zone a Quick Response Vehicle (QRV), and the Fire Department's first responders (within the Fayetteville city limits we will request Fayetteville Fire Medic). When the units check enroute to the call the EMS dispatcher gives the patient information that the call taker has received from the caller to the units along with any additional information on how to find the location of the call.

Any further patient information, any change in patient status is accessed and forwarded to the responding units to ensure the best responders for the call are sent, at the safest speed for our citizens.

The EMS dispatcher keeps up with the times that the units get on the scene, leave the scene, and get to the hospital to keep up with where the units are at all time.