RECOMMENDATION

Recognize and commend the San Jose Fire Department Emergency Medical Dispatchers for achieving the Accredited Center of Excellence award as bestowed by the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch.

BACKGROUND

In 1989, San Jose Fire Department recognized that the time between when a customer called 911 and when an emergency medical unit arrived on scene were valuable minutes. While the response times of our fire engines were good, the use of that time to provide medical instructions could be valuable and downright lifesaving, for the person needing help.

An Emergency Medical Dispatch system was devised and implemented in 1991 to provide medical instructions to callers. This allows our highly trained Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs) to provide instructions over the phone for things as simple as how to control bleeding on a cut finger, to complex cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while Fire Department units are responding to the scene.

Within five years it became clear that in order to utilize our precious resources to the customer’s best advantage, we would need a method to differentiate the priority of calls based on medical need. In 1997, we began using an expanded Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) which allows the EMD to determine the urgency/emergent nature of a 911 call while continuing to provide the caller with life-saving instructions. Our EMDs have been using this system to effectively prioritize calls for help – that is, sending the right resources to each call – since that time.

Over 35,000 callers each year have been provided with medical instruction and prioritization by San Jose Fire Department EMDs. Additionally, we are able to provide these instructions to our diverse population in over 100 languages with the assistance of a translation service available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

ACHIEVEMENT

San Jose Fire Department Communications is being awarded the Accredited Center of Excellence from the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch.

The National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch (NAEMD) is the only independent standard setting agency for medical dispatching. The NAEMD awards the Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) to communications centers that perform their EMD duties to the highest standard worldwide. This is demonstrated by having the appropriate medical direction through our Department medical director, policies and procedures in place which are reviewed and updated regularly, and user oversight committees to help peers understand the medical protocols and provide suggestions for changes.

The ACE is a direct reflection of our EMDs and their ability to correctly use and effectively apply these medical dispatch protocols to provide the best service for our customers. We are proud to report that our EMDs consistently provide service to our community at a rate that is significantly higher than the standard set by the National Academy of EMD. In other words, they are great at providing prompt, courteous, professional service in the best manner for each individual call.

So, it is with great pride that we announce that San Jose Fire Department Emergency Medical Dispatchers have attained and maintained an outstanding level of service to their community. They are receiving the Accredited Center of Excellence award. There are only 3 other communications centers in California, and 60 other centers worldwide that have attained this level of service.

MANUEL ALARCON

Fire Chief

CITY OF SAN JOSE

Commendation

WHEREAS: The dedicated Emergency Medical Dispatchers with the San Jose Fire Department serve our community on a daily basis by providing appropriate triage and medical instructions for callers in an emergency medical situation; and

WHEREAS: The Emergency Medical Dispatchers with the San Jose Fire Department have been providing medical instructions for callers with an emergency medical situation since 1991; and

WHEREAS: The Emergency Medical Dispatchers with the San Jose Fire Department provide assistance to over 35,000 callers annually; and

WHEREAS: The Emergency Medical Dispatchers with the San Jose Fire Department provide assistance to callers at a compliance level that exceeds the only international standard set for Emergency Medical Dispatch; and

WHEREAS: The Emergency Medical Dispatchers with the San Jose Fire Department are Jessica Araiza, Joanne Bartholdy, Stephanie Buffoni-Sprague, Jennifer Burnham, Bruce Cannon, Dan Cortez, Tracy Deitschman, Maureen Dyette, Brian Ferry, Doreen Hargrave, Cindy Hawke, Dave Hill, Roy Hovey, Patty Hubbard, Brenda Jaime, Kelly Jargick, Eric Joslin, Steven Klass, Sally Lane, Randall Larson, Lee Ann Magoski, Deanna Mateo, Robert Meineke, Nadine Nelson, Marie Rangel, Linda Rojas, Sylvia Sancen, Cathy Sgambati, Lisa Smyth, Kyle Sohn, Lisa Solomon, Meredith Studebaker, John Thompson, Cheryl Turay, Auggie Vargas and Teresa Zagalo;

NOW, THEREFORE I, Ron Gonzales, Mayor of the City of San Jose, along with Councilmember John Diquisto and the rest of our colleagues on the City Council, recognize and commend the San Jose Fire Department Emergency Medical Dispatchers as an

ACCREDITED CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

as bestowed by the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch on this 18^th day of September, 2001.