The World’s Okayest Medic Podcast Conversation with a 911 Telecommunicator
Jul 20, 2025
Explore the fascinating world of 911 dispatching as a seasoned telecommunicator shares insights into the profession's complexities. Discover the lack of national standards, the challenges of assessing emergencies, and the balance between providing critical medical guidance and managing legal risks. Dive into the evolution of dispatching systems, from supportive resources to rigid frameworks, and the potential game-changing role of AI. Uncover the art of critical thinking required in high-pressure situations and the vital collaborations between dispatchers and first responders.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
No National Dispatch Standards
- There are no national legal standards for dispatch besides having the 911 number. - Local government determines staffing, training, and protocols in dispatch centers.
EMD’s High Sensitivity & Over-triage
- Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) prioritizes high sensitivity to identify problems but has low positive predictive value. - Dispatchers must believe caller reports, leading to frequent over-triage.
Clarify Alert and Breathing Questions
- Use clarifying questions when callers don't clearly answer if a patient is alert. - Determining if someone is breathing is usually not that difficult for callers.