Texas Regional EMD
Summary
Senate Bill 523, passed by the 79th Legislature, directed the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), to establish a pilot program to test the efficacy of using emergency medical dispatchers located in a regional dispatch resource center to provide life saving and other emergency medical instructions to persons who need guidance while awaiting the arrival of emergency medical personnel.
The Emergency Medical Dispatch Resource Center Pilot was activated once planning, technical accommodations and training were completed. The actual pilot ran from late June 2006, into September 2006, and ended with 400 transferred calls handled at the pilot dispatch resource center site operated by the Montgomery County Hospital District EMS Dispatch Center. Local 911 public safety answering points in Lufkin, Gatesville, and Jacksboro participated. The pilot was evaluated with internationally adopted, standardized quality improvement guidelines commonly used by state-of-the-art technology-supported dispatch centers, as well as by review of the project team and advisory group.
Legislative Charge
Senate Bill 523, passed by the 79th Legislature, directed the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), to establish a pilot program to test the efficacy of using emergency medical dispatchers located in a regional dispatch resource center to provide life saving and other emergency medical instructions to persons who need guidance while awaiting the arrival of emergency medical personnel. The purpose of the regional emergency medical dispatch resource center was not to dispatch personnel or equipment resources but to serve as a resource to provide pre-arrival instructions that may be accessed by selected public safety answering points that are not adequately staffed or funded to provide those services.
Report to the Texas Legislature
S.B. 523:
Emergency Medical Services
Dispatch Resource Center
Pilot Project
Program Materials and Presentations (click here)
