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PTSD

Measuring the Impact of Training on Emergency Medical Dispatcher Management of General Mental Crisis Calls and Suicide Calls

Jim Marshall, MA, Daniel Ashwood, PhD, Angie Fox, Jim Soukup

May 29, 2020|AEDR 2020 Vol. 8 Issue 1|Original Research

Historically, 911 professionals have not received specialized training in dispatch and call management related to mental crises and suicidality. This lack of training may contribute to lack of confidence and elevated anxiety in successfully handling these call types. A new model of training, Emergency Mental Health Dispatching™ (EMHD), which aims to equip 911 professionals to manage these calls has been developed to address this need. The objective of this case study was to measure the impact of EMHD via two specific aims. The first aim...

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Finding Control in the Chaos: A Case for Mindfulness in the Dispatch Center

Madeline R. Marks, MS, Annelise Cunningham, MS, Clint Bowers, PhD

Aug 24, 2018|AEDR 2018 Vol. 6 Issue 2|Original Research

Emergency dispatchers serve as a unique population to examine the impact of exposure to trauma given their continuous indirect exposure to stressful and traumatic calls. Furthermore, the unique experiences of emergency dispatchers warrants consideration of preventative measures to mitigate the negative outcomes associated with the job. Due to the continuous stress and exposure to trauma, present perceived control is offered as a variable of interest. Present perceived control (PPC) is examined in two studies by the present...

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Is Dispatching to a Traffic Accident as Stressful as Being in One? Acute Stress Disorder, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Occupational Burnout in 911 Emergency Dispatchers

B. Trachik, Madeline R. Marks, MS, Clint Bowers, PhD, Greg Scott, MBA, EMD-QI, Christopher Olola, PhD, Isabel Gardett, PhD

Mar 22, 2015|AEDR 2015 Vol. 3 Issue 1|Original Research

Emergency dispatchers are exposed to potentially traumatic events at rates that likely exceed that of emergency first responders. Although not physically present at the time of the incident, it is likely that this repeated exposure in concert with highly stressful work conditions could lead to potentially negative emotional and physical outcomes. To date few studies have examined rates of stress related pathology and subsequent impairment in emergency dispatchers. The following study takes an initial step to investigate rates of Acute Stress Disorder, Secondary Traumatic Stress and...

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