Communications
Grady’s communications center is a secondary public service answering point (PSAP) receiving all emergency calls through the city of Atlanta. Once received, our EMD trained dispatcher uses the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch protocol system that evaluates the patient’s condition and assists in appropriate allocation of resources. Based on the Medical Priority Dispatch System, ProQA is the EMD software package that guides the call taker through the process of collecting vital information with medically approved protocols until the dispatched unit arrives on scene.
An estimated 100,000 emergency calls per year are processed using two dispatchers, four call takers and one supervisor per shift on a 12-hour rotating shift. Due to the growth of the 911 Communications Center, Grady EMS Communications relocated to an upgraded facility in February 2011.
Grady’s EMS Communications Center is working toward becoming an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) through the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch. Upon achieving this very high standard, we will be one of three agencies in the state of Georgia, and one of only 153 agencies in the world.
On Nov. 1, 2011, Grady EMS implemented the Nurse Advice Program. The Nurse Advice Program allows 911 callers who have been triaged by Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) as a low-level call to be transferred to a nurse, who can assist the caller by providing care. The primary goal of the Nurse Advice referral is to match non-life threatening EMS calls to appropriate resources and expertise. The Nurse Advice nurse’s responsibilities include providing EMS callers with efficient medical resource and transportation options.
New Training Lab Grady’s EMS Communications Center uses a state-of-the-art training lab to perform hands-on training to new and current employees. The lab is equipped with the Tri Tech CAD system, Pro QA and phone system to simulate real life emergencies in real time.
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