APCO EMD Module 1: Roles, Responsibilities, and Resource Allocation

Question 1

Emergency Medical Dispatch involves the combination of what two things?

Answer 1

Telecommunication skills and medical knowledge

Question 2

What is the EMD?

Answer 2

The primary and initial point of contact for callers seeking medical assistance

Question 3

What are the responsibilities of an EMD?

Answer 3

1. Receiving & processing calls
2. Determining the nature without diagnosing medical problem or condition
3. Coordinating and dispatching EMS resources based on the predetermined response configurations found in your EMD guidecards
4. Providing emergency medical assistance using your EMS guidecards and software
5. Being responsible for keeping contact with caller

Question 4

What are some characteristics of a successful EMD?

Answer 4

• Maintaining confidentiality
• Being helpful, compassionate, and polite
• Effectively handling the emotional stress involved in caller/patient situations
• Mastering the skills, philosophy, and knowledge of EMD
• Reacting passively to hostile callers, making no judgements based on caller’s demeanor or past experience
• Having a good working knowledge of the local EMS system & its capabilities
• Being clean, concise, and using accurate speech

Question 5

What is EMD?

Answer 5

An advanced form of dispatch communications based on specific medical training

Question 6

What is EMS?

Answer 6

All personnel of the local public safety system with specific specialized medical training

Question 7

What is the difference between EMD and EMS?

Answer 7

EMD is a part of EMS, and EMD includes all EMD and other parts of public safety system