E-911 ANNOUNCES AMBULANCE DISPATCH PROTOCOLS - "Response Time Could Be Critical"

(10/20/2009)

Calhoun E-911/OES Director Kathy Wood advised the Calhoun Commission yesterday regarding changes in the dispatching of ambulances by by E-911. "The changes will allow the closest available ambulance to respond to a medical crisis," said Wood, using the additional services of Minnie Hamilton Health Service. Wood said there are times when Calhoun EMS ambulances are on calls from Station 400 (Mt. Zion) and a medical crisis or trauma situation happens in northern Calhoun. Currently, the protocol has been to call an ambulance from Station 410 (Minnora) to respond to northern Calhoun. "That response time could be critical with some situations," she said. The new protocol allows dispatchers to call Minnie Hamilton Health System for such emergency situations to shorten the response time. Minnie Hamilton Health System generally has a full crew available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wood said. The commissioners passed a resolution in support of the agencies administrative change, saying "It is the right thing to do for patient care." Wood noted that Calhoun has standing agreements with surrounding counties when ambulances are being tied-up.

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