Annals of Emergency Dispatch & Response Logo

Christopher Calabro

Emergency Medical Dispatchers' Ability to Determine Obvious or Expected Death Outcomes Using a Medical Priority Dispatch Protocol

Ivan Whitaker, MBA, Christopher Olola, PhD, Corike Toxopeus, PhD, Greg Scott, MBA, EMD-QI, Jeff J. Clawson, MD, Bryon Schultz, BA, Donald Robinson, Christopher Calabro, Isabel Gardett, PhD, Brett Patterson

Aug 01, 2015|AEDR 2015 Vol. 3 Issue 2|Original Research

Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs), at emergency communication centers that have implemented the Medical Priority Dispatch System® (MPDS) protocols, use scripted questions to interrogate people calling 9-1-1. Based on this interrogation, case determinant codes are assigned– to identify the specific patient condition and enable optimal allocation and deployment of resources to ensure appropriate field responses. MPDS determinant codes for both OBVIOUS and EXPECTED DEATH exist for patients that are clearly and irreversibly dead, or have a terminal illness accompanied...

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