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Patient Care Begins With Dispatch

Increase Emergency Dispatcher confidence and improve patient outcomes with the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS).

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A System Built on Lifetimes of Experience and Science

A patient shouldn’t have to wait for First Responders to arrive to receive care. In medical emergencies, time is of the essence, which is why so many agencies trust MPDS to deliver the highest-quality patient care with unmatched efficiency.

MPDS helps Emergency Dispatchers ask the right questions at the right time to identify medical issues and apply consistent care that has the potential to save lives. More than a script, this protocol-based system gives Emergency Dispatchers the tools they need to effectively walk callers through common and uncommon medical emergencies and dispatch the responders who are best suited for each situation.

Listen to the EMD Protocols in Action

Learn How Other Agencies Use MPDS

Since 1979, MPDS has helped Emergency Communications Centers field hundreds of millions of calls with confidence and accuracy.

36 Robust, Scientifically Validated Protocols

MPDS is the most widely used structured Emergency Dispatch system in the industry. It has been the gold standard of Emergency Medical Dispatching for over 40 years, with 36 robust, scientifically validated protocols that provide your community with the best response for every caller, no matter the emergency.

The 36 protocols included in MPDS guide your Emergency Dispatchers to quickly dispatch the right response level, to the right place, with the right equipment, every time. Once First Responders are en route, the protocols assist Emergency Dispatchers in providing potentially life-saving instructions to callers.

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Innovating with Every Step

We're constantly evolving our tools to empower Emergency Dispatchers to offer potentially life-saving instructions, including:

Childbirth

Emergency Dispatchers can use step-by-step instructions to walk callers through every possible childbirth scenario, whether it’s guiding a mother through giving birth on the side of the road or assisting a midwife if birthing difficulties arise.

Stroke Diagnostic

The Stroke Diagnostic Tool has been proven to identify more than twice as many strokes as medics physically at the scene, resulting in early and accurate diagnosis for First Responders and hospitals to act quickly.

Tourniquet

Emergency Dispatchers give step-by-step instructions for applying a tourniquet to control the bleeding of critically injured patients. This protocol reduces mortality for these patients by up to 60%.

Mental Health Conditions

It’s more important than ever to address acute mental health conditions with care and compassion. Emergency Dispatchers have more resources at their disposal like dispatching emerging Crisis/Alternative Response teams to safely de-escalate a mental health event.

Cardiac Arrest

Many cardiac events present with similar symptoms. The MPDS helps Emergency Dispatchers quickly and accurately triage every type of cardiac call, then walk callers through administering CPR when appropriate.

Emerging Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS)

EIDS directs Emergency Dispatchers through patient-screening information to check for exposure to, and symptoms of, highly contagious pathogens. Emergency Dispatchers can give caller instructions to limit the spread and keep First Responders safe as they work.

Right before Christmas a woman collapsed with cardiac arrest. We were able to enact the Protocols and give Pre-Arrival Instructions and she was home with her family for Christmas. We have saved a life already.

Teri Best, Director, Pecos Valley Regional Communications Center, Roswell, NM

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On the day of implementation our first call was a cardiac arrest and the second call was an electrocution, which is a crazy call. Due to the protocols and training we had successful outcomes and both patients were saved.

Meghan Monaco, Quality Assurance Manager, Hendricks County Communications Center, Plainfield, IN

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When we were first bringing MPDS on board we talked to the Board of Directors and also our Fire Chief and told them we cannot afford not to implement this product, with liability and the potential for lawsuits.

CJ Bailes, Training and Quality Assurance Supervisor, South Metro Fire Rescue MetCom Dispatch, Centennial, CO

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See MPDS in Action

Don’t just take our word for it – we’ll show you exactly how MPDS’ gold-standard protocols can help your center or agency reach the highest standard of care in the industry.

See Why Other Agencies Love ProQA

Questions? We Have Answers.

Won’t scripted Emergency Dispatch stop me from thinking for myself and using my own experience?

There’s a reason we like to say ProQA is a decision support tool. You still decide who, what, when, and how to dispatch. The system simply makes it easier to make efficient, effective decisions, bringing much-needed consistency to every call, on every shift.

Does the software dictate how we respond? We want to make our own decisions.

Every emergency communications center we work with is unique. From sprawling metropolitan areas to spread-out rural communities, each jurisdiction has different resources at its disposal. We work with you during implementation to define each response configuration - who or what gets sent when - based on what will best serve your community.

With so many questions, won’t it increase our time to dispatch?

The majority of calls handled by Emergency Dispatchers using ProQA arrive at the correct dispatch code in less than a minute. Emergency Dispatchers continue to collect relevant information while updating responders in real-time as they make their way to the scene. The questions in each protocol are designed to efficiently gather the most important information, minimizing time-wasting fishing that often happens with freelance dispatching.

The system is too rigid. Why can’t we change the questions?

The protocols developed by the IAED have been tested over millions of calls to offer the most efficient, safe response possible. That said, the Priority Dispatch System is the most user-changed system available. We welcome your experience and expertise to make the protocols better. Agencies can submit Proposals for Change to refine or update protocols. All Proposals for Change undergo a thorough review by the IAED and, if approved, get implemented system-wide.

What software training is needed or required for Emergency Dispatchers?

We require Emergency Dispatchers to get certified (as well as re-certified) in each discipline they dispatch. These certifications are based on standards set by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch and ensure each Emergency Dispatcher meets universal best practice standards to deliver a high standard of care and reduce your agency’s liability risk.

How often is the software updated? How does an agency update its Emergency Dispatchers on any changes?

The ProQA software and the protocols within are updated quarterly. Each release comes with detailed release notes, videos, and training requirements. In addition, major new protocol releases come with their own update guide. We notify all users via email with each release.