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Idaho
has state wide dispatch for ground and some flight following capabilities for
air, but non of which is a mandatory buy in for services.
Robert S. "Steve" Cole
Paramedic, CCEMTP
Education
Department
Ada County Paramedics
208-375-7079
emcolers@adaweb.net
"...A mind stretched with new ideas never regains its
former shape"
I would really like to know:
Exactly how many states have state wide
dispatch....
Could you respond to if your state does or you know of one
that uses State wide dispatch.
Thank you for you reply, if you are interested in the
results I will post.
Michele Moore EMT-P
>>> Jsscharm@aol.com 06/24/02 11:21PM
>>>
I am curious if there
are any rotor programs dispatched via a central state-wide dispatching center
and if so, is it efficient?
There are several flight programs
scattered throughout the state where I live and each program has their own
dispatch center. A couple of these programs engage in fierce competition.
There are times when a ground ambulance (which is affiliated with one
program) will call for a specific air ambulance to respond to a scene, even
though that helicopter is 35 - 40 minutes away and flies over another
helicopter which is 8 minutes away from the scene. I am concerned that
this competition and strong affiliation ties is adversely affecting patient
care. I find it unethical to make a patient "wait" for air transport
because an ambulance (or hospital) either chooses or is told to use a specific
rotor program that may not be even remotely close to the scene.
I am
wondering if a state-wide dispatch center would be in the patient's best
interest. A customer (ambulance/hospital) would call one number and that
dispatcher would dispatch the closest available helicopter that would meet the
customer's needs. That way the politics would be removed and the patient
would not have to wait.
...would like to hear from any programs that
have experienced similar problems....
J.S., flight nurse
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