Agenda - 10-03-2013 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Comprehensive Assessment of Emergency Medical Services 63 and 911 /Communications Center Operations Study For the most part these response codes are universal and well known to emergency medical and first responder agency personnel. The table that follows identifies the medical dispatch response codes, the condition identified and associated with that code, the agency /unit dispatched and the level (status) at which they are expected to respond. Figure 10 Medical Dispatch Response Codes Response Code Condition Identified Agency /Unit Dispatched Response Status 330 Non -life threatening, Initial No Lights or Sirens, Upgraded to Lights & Sirens 111 ALPHA Lights & Sirens Ambulance only Non - Emergency No Lights & Sirens low priority assessed 61.7% Total Responses 10,494 Non -life threatening, BRAVO Ambulance only Emergency but more serious First Responders Emergency CHARLIE Potentially life threatening Ambulance Non - Emergency DELTA Life threatening All Units Emergency All Units; including ECHO Circling the drain Emergency Law Enforcement The distribution of emergency to non - emergency medical calls has changed significantly since 2009 when the "response determinants" were adjusted to reflect more closely those recommended by the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch (NAEMD). The distribution of emergency and non - emergency medical calls dispatched during 2011 is illustrated in Figure 11. This issue will also be addressed further in Section 4- 911 /Communications Center. Figure 11 Medical Call Response Levels -2011 Respnse Level Number of Responses Percent of Total Initial Lights & Sirens, Downgraded to No Lights or Sirens 330 3.1% Initial No Lights or Sirens, Upgraded to Lights & Sirens 111 1.1% Lights & Sirens 3,577 34.1% No Lights & Sirens 6,476 61.7% Total Responses 10,494 The non - emergency to emergency call ratio of 2 -to -1 is not unusual among North Carolina EMS agencies. In fact, it could be expected to remain close to these percentages for the near future. The first two Response Level categories listed in Figure 11 may result as the EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatcher) continues their questioning of the 911 caller following the actual dispatch of the response units. As such, the patient's condition may worsen from that initially reported; i.e. "Initial No Lights or Sirens, Upgraded to Lights & Sirens "; or, improve or through further questioning be determined to not be as serious as initially reported; i.e. "Initial Lights & Sirens to No Lights or Sirens ". Solutions for Local Government, Inc. 19