FCEMS Headquarters, July 9, 2002

Florence County employees attended meetings to prepare for the start of Phase 1 of the implementation of the EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatch) Program here.

Captain David Exum, Professional Standards Officer, has been selected to be a member of the Quality Improvement Committee. He will attend the same courses as the Dispatchers to receive training in EMD. Additionally, he will attend a course for ProQA, which is software specifically for review of dispatched calls, and make recommendations for quality improvement in the system.

Captain Chuck Haines, and Donnie Windham of Timmonsville Rescue Squad, have been selected to be members of the Medical Dispatch Review Committee. This group will meet with and review selected calls forwarded from the Quality Improvement Committee, and forward recommendations to the Steering Committee.

Colonel Gary Horn, and Dr. Andre Creese, Assistant Medical Control Director, have been selected to be members of the Steering Committee. This group will meet with and review information from the other committees, as well as determine needed changes in policy and procedure in the system.

Phase 1 of the EMD Program will start on September 23. At that time, all calls with be dispatched by the criteria given in the EMD system protocols, though the actual changes in unit response will be with the start of Phase 2 in March 2003. This will give 6 months of time for fine-tuning of the dispatch center protocols and reviews for compliance with accepted standards.

Florence County will be using the EMD System from Priority Dispatch Corporation.