BC E9-1-1 Center moves to handle all local calls for county
September 24, 2014
Steve Chapman
Emergency medical dispatches in south Barry County could be handled by the E9-1-1 Center in Cassville by the beginning of 2015, according to a proposal by Director Mike Phillips. Currently, when someone calls 9-1-1 in south Barry County for a medical emergency, such as a heart attack, that call is transferred to Cox Hospitals in Springfield, where an operator stays on the line with the caller and provides instructions for medical care until paramedics arrive.
At a meeting of the E9-1-1 Emergency Services Board on Monday, Sept. 22, Phillips stated he believed the time had come for the Barry County E9-1-1 Center, which already handles emergency medical dispatch for the northern part of the county, to begin handling the southern part. “It’s the right thing to do for Barry County,” he said.
According to Phillips, Cox Hospitals handles emergency medical dispatch for south Barry County because, before 9-1-1 first came into the area, there was no one trained to handle emergency dispatch calls. Now, however, Phillips says the E9-1-1 center has enough trained personnel to meet all of the needs. “We’re in a place now where, with our staffing levels and experienced dispatchers, we can take on that duty,” he said.
Currently, the Center employs 16 dispatchers, with at least two dispatchers at each shift and three at peak periods. After January, that number will increase to a minimum of three per shift, with four at peak periods.
Phillips says the handling of emergency medical dispatch at the local level will provide a superior level of service for county residents because the dispatchers in the Barry County E9-1-1 Center are much more familiar with Barry County than those employed by Cox Hospitals in Springfield. “My dispatchers are more familiar with the area, and we are able to maintain quality assurance on a local level,” he said. Phillips also said that localizing the emergency medical dispatches would have no financial impact.
The Emergency Services Board plans to meet with the chairman of the Barry County South Ambulance Board within the next 30 days to further discuss the matter. Phillips said that while the Ambulance Board does have a contract with Cox Hospitals, the contract does not mention emergency medical dispatches. In other business, Mike Bennett was sworn in as the board’s newest member. He replaces former board member Leslie Smith. Upon being sworn in, Bennett was also appointed as board secretary. The board next meets on Dec. 16.
Steve Chapman
Emergency medical dispatches in south Barry County could be handled by the E9-1-1 Center in Cassville by the beginning of 2015, according to a proposal by Director Mike Phillips. Currently, when someone calls 9-1-1 in south Barry County for a medical emergency, such as a heart attack, that call is transferred to Cox Hospitals in Springfield, where an operator stays on the line with the caller and provides instructions for medical care until paramedics arrive.
At a meeting of the E9-1-1 Emergency Services Board on Monday, Sept. 22, Phillips stated he believed the time had come for the Barry County E9-1-1 Center, which already handles emergency medical dispatch for the northern part of the county, to begin handling the southern part. “It’s the right thing to do for Barry County,” he said.
According to Phillips, Cox Hospitals handles emergency medical dispatch for south Barry County because, before 9-1-1 first came into the area, there was no one trained to handle emergency dispatch calls. Now, however, Phillips says the E9-1-1 center has enough trained personnel to meet all of the needs. “We’re in a place now where, with our staffing levels and experienced dispatchers, we can take on that duty,” he said.
Currently, the Center employs 16 dispatchers, with at least two dispatchers at each shift and three at peak periods. After January, that number will increase to a minimum of three per shift, with four at peak periods.
Phillips says the handling of emergency medical dispatch at the local level will provide a superior level of service for county residents because the dispatchers in the Barry County E9-1-1 Center are much more familiar with Barry County than those employed by Cox Hospitals in Springfield. “My dispatchers are more familiar with the area, and we are able to maintain quality assurance on a local level,” he said. Phillips also said that localizing the emergency medical dispatches would have no financial impact.
The Emergency Services Board plans to meet with the chairman of the Barry County South Ambulance Board within the next 30 days to further discuss the matter. Phillips said that while the Ambulance Board does have a contract with Cox Hospitals, the contract does not mention emergency medical dispatches. In other business, Mike Bennett was sworn in as the board’s newest member. He replaces former board member Leslie Smith. Upon being sworn in, Bennett was also appointed as board secretary. The board next meets on Dec. 16.
