Study ObjectiveIn December 2014, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) implemented a new dispatch system that emphasizes early recognition and rapid dispatch for select time-critical emergencies. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of the new dispatch system on these high priority calls.MethodsThis was a retrospective study evaluating the elapsed time from 911 call receipt to dispatch of resources before and after implementation of the new dispatch system. Comparator groups included a “before” arm (January 1 - September 30, 2014) and an “after” arm (January 1, 2015 to March 30, 2015). The study was conducted in the City of Los Angeles, which has a population of 4.1 million and whose 911 center is staffed by uniformed firefighters certified as emergency medical dispatchers. Dispatch and emergency medical service (EMS) are provided by LAFD, which is a fire-based EMS provider, with each patient encounter captured by an electronic patient care report (ePCR). All incidents with field confirmed provider impressions of eight time-critical emergencies were identified, and elapsed time from 911-call receipt to dispatch of resources was calculated. Mean and median times were collected for both groups. In the two study periods, there were no significant changes in dispatch personnel, population served, number of daily EMS incidents, or field care protocols for the emergencies under study.ResultsFollowing implementation of the new LAFD dispatch system, there was a decreased 911 call processing time for field confirmed cases of airway obstruction, auto versus pedestrian collisions, bystander-witnessed cardiac arrests, childbirth, drownings, gunshot wounds, long falls (fall from greater than 2x patient’s height), and seizure.ConclusionView Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT) Study ObjectiveIn December 2014, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) implemented a new dispatch system that emphasizes early recognition and rapid dispatch for select time-critical emergencies. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of the new dispatch system on these high priority calls. In December 2014, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) implemented a new dispatch system that emphasizes early recognition and rapid dispatch for select time-critical emergencies. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of the new dispatch system on these high priority calls. MethodsThis was a retrospective study evaluating the elapsed time from 911 call receipt to dispatch of resources before and after implementation of the new dispatch system. Comparator groups included a “before” arm (January 1 - September 30, 2014) and an “after” arm (January 1, 2015 to March 30, 2015). The study was conducted in the City of Los Angeles, which has a population of 4.1 million and whose 911 center is staffed by uniformed firefighters certified as emergency medical dispatchers. Dispatch and emergency medical service (EMS) are provided by LAFD, which is a fire-based EMS provider, with each patient encounter captured by an electronic patient care report (ePCR). All incidents with field confirmed provider impressions of eight time-critical emergencies were identified, and elapsed time from 911-call receipt to dispatch of resources was calculated. Mean and median times were collected for both groups. In the two study periods, there were no significant changes in dispatch personnel, population served, number of daily EMS incidents, or field care protocols for the emergencies under study. This was a retrospective study evaluating the elapsed time from 911 call receipt to dispatch of resources before and after implementation of the new dispatch system. Comparator groups included a “before” arm (January 1 - September 30, 2014) and an “after” arm (January 1, 2015 to March 30, 2015). The study was conducted in the City of Los Angeles, which has a population of 4.1 million and whose 911 center is staffed by uniformed firefighters certified as emergency medical dispatchers. Dispatch and emergency medical service (EMS) are provided by LAFD, which is a fire-based EMS provider, with each patient encounter captured by an electronic patient care report (ePCR). All incidents with field confirmed provider impressions of eight time-critical emergencies were identified, and elapsed time from 911-call receipt to dispatch of resources was calculated. Mean and median times were collected for both groups. In the two study periods, there were no significant changes in dispatch personnel, population served, number of daily EMS incidents, or field care protocols for the emergencies under study. ResultsFollowing implementation of the new LAFD dispatch system, there was a decreased 911 call processing time for field confirmed cases of airway obstruction, auto versus pedestrian collisions, bystander-witnessed cardiac arrests, childbirth, drownings, gunshot wounds, long falls (fall from greater than 2x patient’s height), and seizure. Following implementation of the new LAFD dispatch system, there was a decreased 911 call processing time for field confirmed cases of airway obstruction, auto versus pedestrian collisions, bystander-witnessed cardiac arrests, childbirth, drownings, gunshot wounds, long falls (fall from greater than 2x patient’s height), and seizure. Conclusion