Has The County Outgrown It's 9-1-1 Center?
Has The County Outgrown It's 9-1-1 Center? That was the headline below the fold in the front page of the Pulaski Citizen 22 March 2011.
According to the paper the 9-11 Board of Directors discussed a problem with the current system. According to the Ambulance Director the current system requires callers to give their information to 9-1-1 operators and then seconds later to EMS when the call is transferred. The "simplest solution to the problem is to hire four or five more dispatchers, except the 9-1-1 call center doesn't have room to accommodate any more personnel".
Surely the math wizards in local government can find a couple more million dollars to build a new facility and meet the payroll of the extended staff. I mean what's two million more dollars in a budget that is every bit as out of balance as the federal government and they can find more ways to keep spending.
Here's a novel idea, why not cross train the current 9-1-1 operators as most other counties have done? The second thought is since any calls transferred to EMS would necessarily be an emergency why take time to get details again. The basic information should be relayed to EMS, who are prepared for all emergencies, in route. Be assured no matter how many times information is given to people everyone who comes into direct contact will require it be repeated to them. I can not recall the number of times I attended an emergency call with no idea of the nature other than the most basic. Information, regardless of what has been shared previously has to be repeated to the medic on scene.
Have you ever been to the Emergency Room and counted how many times you give the same information to different people?
To me, this idea seems more in tune with a group of folks with less to do than to talk about. The necessity, based on the information available at this time is simply absurd and a waste of money with little or no benefits. There should be no consideration at this time to either increase the staff or the facilities of the 9-1-1 system.
According to the paper the 9-11 Board of Directors discussed a problem with the current system. According to the Ambulance Director the current system requires callers to give their information to 9-1-1 operators and then seconds later to EMS when the call is transferred. The "simplest solution to the problem is to hire four or five more dispatchers, except the 9-1-1 call center doesn't have room to accommodate any more personnel".
Surely the math wizards in local government can find a couple more million dollars to build a new facility and meet the payroll of the extended staff. I mean what's two million more dollars in a budget that is every bit as out of balance as the federal government and they can find more ways to keep spending.
Here's a novel idea, why not cross train the current 9-1-1 operators as most other counties have done? The second thought is since any calls transferred to EMS would necessarily be an emergency why take time to get details again. The basic information should be relayed to EMS, who are prepared for all emergencies, in route. Be assured no matter how many times information is given to people everyone who comes into direct contact will require it be repeated to them. I can not recall the number of times I attended an emergency call with no idea of the nature other than the most basic. Information, regardless of what has been shared previously has to be repeated to the medic on scene.
Have you ever been to the Emergency Room and counted how many times you give the same information to different people?
To me, this idea seems more in tune with a group of folks with less to do than to talk about. The necessity, based on the information available at this time is simply absurd and a waste of money with little or no benefits. There should be no consideration at this time to either increase the staff or the facilities of the 9-1-1 system.
posted by Allen Barrett | 12:55 PM
5 Comments:
The population of this town has decreased over the past 10 or so years, and they say that the call volume is of such they can't handle it? Well how on earth were they handling it 10 years ago?
Did they have a larger staff then now?
Is the population decrease the fault of the commission?
Where did that come from? I don't believe I read anywhere in the post of 6:43 that even mentions the commission?
But since you brought it up, can you site anything that they did to the contrary?
9:57 Good statement and point! Thanks.
What about our hospital?
why do we have one?
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