ASTM_F_1560_-_00_2014.pdf

Designation:F156000(Reapproved 2014)Standard Practice forEmergency Medical Dispatch Management1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1560;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThe emergency medical dispatcher(EMD)is the principal link between the public caller requestingemergency medical assistance and the emergency medical service(EMS)resource delivery system.Assuch,the EMD plays a fundamental role in the ability of the EMS system to respond to a perceivedmedical emergency.With proper training,program administration,supervision,and medical direction,the EMD can accurately query the caller,select an appropriate method of response,provide pertinentinformation to responders,and give appropriate aid and direction for patients through the caller.Through careful application and reference to a written,medically approved,emergency medicaldispatch protocol,sound decisions concerning EMS responses can be made in a safe,reproducible,and non-arbitrary manner.These benefits are realized by EMS systems when appropriateimplementation,sound medical management,and quality assurance/quality improvement(QA/QI)atdispatch are provided within the EMD/EMS system.This practice assists in establishing thesemanagement and administrative standards.1.Scope1.1 This practice covers the function of the emergencymedical dispatcher(EMD).This function is the prompt andaccurate processing of calls for emergency medical assistance.The training and practice through the use of a written orautomated medical dispatch protocol is not sufficient in itself toensure continued medically correct functioning of the EMD.Their dispatch-specific medical training and focal role in EMShas developed to such a complexity that only through acorrectly structured and appropriately managed quality assur-ance environment can the benefits of their practice be fullyrealized.The philosophies of emergency medical dispatch haveestablished new duties to which the emergency medical dis-patch agency must respond.It is important that their qualityassurance/quality improvement(QA/QI)activities,includinginitial hiring,orientation,training and certification,continuingdispatch education,recertification,and performance evaluationbe given appropriate managerial attention to help ensure theongoing safety in the performance of the EMD.This practiceestablishes functional guidelines for these managerial,admin-istrative and supervisory functions.1.2 The scope of this practice includes:1.2.1 The entry level selection criteria for hiring emergencymedical dispatchers;1.2.2 The orientation of new emergency medical dispatch-ers;1.2.3 Development of QA/QI mechanisms,managementstrategies and organizational structures for use within a com-prehensive emergency medical dispatch system;1.2.4 Performance evaluation as a component of a compre-hensive and ongoing quality assurance and risk managementprogram for an emergency medical dispatch system;1.2.5 Development and provision of continuing dispatcheducation activities for the emergency medical dispatcher;1.2.6 Requirements for initial certification and recertifica-tion of the emergency medical dispatcher;1.2.7 Provision for comparative analysis between differentEMD program approaches available to the EMS communitythat conform to established EMD practice standards prior toimplementation of an emergency medical dispatch program;and1.2.8 Guidelines for implementation of an emergency medi-cal dispatch program.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F30 on EmergencyMedical Services and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F30.04 onCommunications.Current edition approved June 1,2014.Published June 2014.Originallyapproved in 1994.Last previous edition approved in 2006 as F1560 00(2006).DOI:10.1520/F1560-00R14.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F1258 Practice for Emergency Medical DispatchF1552 Practice for Training Instructor Qualification andCertification Eligibility of Emergency Medical Dispatch-ers3.Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 case review template,na structured performanceevaluation document containing all necessary input and outputactions required of dispatchers that parallels the EMDson-lineprotocols,policies,and procedures related to call-taking andprocessing.It contains check-off lists and compliance scoringmec