1、Designation: F 1552 94 (Reapproved 2002)Standard Practice forTraining Instructor Qualification and Certification Eligibilityof Emergency Medical Dispatchers1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1552; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adop
2、tion or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThe emergency medical dispatcher (EMD) is the principal link between th
3、e public requestingemergency medical assistance and the emergency medical services (EMS) system. The EMD plays akey role in the ability of the EMS system to respond to a perceived medical emergency. The benefitsof specifically trained emergency medical dispatchers are far reaching. Through medical d
4、ispatch,specific education, and compliance to medically sound policies and procedures, the EMD is able toaccurately interrogate the caller, dispatch the appropriate responders, provide pertinent information toresponders, and give instructions to aid patients via the caller.This practice provides dir
5、ection for the training and certification of emergency medical dispatchersto assist them in making appropriate decisions about EMS responses in a safe, consistent andnon-arbitrary manner. EMS systems with emergency medical dispatchers trained to this practiceprovide pre-arrival instructions to the c
6、aller to assist the patient until pre-hospital care arrives. TheEMD concept provides for safer vehicle response configurations and modes. It may reduce operatingcosts by preserving specialized EMS resources for those emergencies requiring them.The EMD training curriculum is not intended to furnish a
7、ll inclusive telecommunications educationrequired for the emergency medical dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator. EMD trainingprovides only the additional education affecting the practice of dispatching emergency medicalresources such as ambulances, rescue units, first responder units and ot
8、her types of responding unitsof an emergency medical nature; coordinating these response units with those of other public safetyagencies; and providing instructions to the calling party to assist in preserving life prior to the arrivalof responding units. The curriculum is intended to provide specif
9、ic knowledge and medicalinformation above that required of a previously trained and educated basic public safety telecommu-nicator. EMD training is only one module of education required of emergency medical servicestelecommunicators. It is a subspecialty of both public safety communications and emer
10、gency medicalservices systems that is required within a comprehensive public safety communications center whereother disciplines of communications are practiced and should be present in all EMS systems.Additional disciplines include law enforcement, fire, and aeromedical telecommunications.This prac
11、tice is one of a set of applicable standards relating to the emergency medical dispatchfunction. The reader is directed to obtain related ASTM documents that encompass the administrationof EMD programs and Practice F 1258.1. Scope1.1 This practice covers the training structure and primaryfunction of
12、 emergency medical dispatchers. The primary func-tion of the emergency medical dispatcher is the management ofcalls for emergency medical assistance as outlined in PracticeF 1258 and NAEMSP Position Paper on emergency medicaldispatch. Training as an emergency medical technician, para-medic, nurse, p
13、hysician, or basic telecommunicator does notprepare a person to function as an EMD. The emergencymedical dispatching functions have become so specialized thatonly an individual with dispatch specific medical training canperform the required tasks. This practice will delineate thetraining structure f
14、or the essential role of emergency medicaldispatcher.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F30 on EmergencyMedical Services and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F30.02 onPersonnel, Training and Education.Current edition approved August 15, 1994. Published October 199
15、4.1Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.1.2 This practice is intended to outline the basic areas ofknowledge required for an EMD, and to standardize theexpectations and training between the various educationalsettings that
16、are available to deliver the EMD training. Thispractice is not intended to serve as a curriculum for a trainingagency. All curricula developed or selected shall include thekey components outlined in this practice.1.3 It is understood that each agency may possess specialand unique needs related to th
17、e training of EMDs. However,those specialty training areas that lie outside the scope of thisstandard shall not be included in selected 24 h minimumcurriculum delineated by this practice. Additional training asdesired may be annexed but may not supplant the learninggoals required by this practice.1.
18、4 The scope of this standard includes:1.4.1 EMD instructor qualifications,1.4.2 Student selection criteria for emergency medical dis-patcher candidates,1.4.3 Emergency medical dispatcher training curriculumguideline,1.4.4 Guidelines for EMD course goals and minimum timeallocations,1.4.5 Testing and
19、evaluation of the student utilizing thestated course goals as basis for certification or certificationeligibility as an emergency medical dispatcher,1.4.6 Recommended equipment, materials, and facilities fortraining,1.4.7 Guidelines for training course administration andrecord maintenance, and1.4.8
20、Guidelines for an optional EMD preceptorship.1.5 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 regula
21、tory limitations prior to use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:F 1177 Terminology Relating to Emergency Medical Ser-vices2F 1258 Practice for Emergency Medical Dispatch23. Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 codingthe selection and assignment of an alphanu-me
22、ric classification to a call by an EMD.3.1.2 emergency medical dispatcher (EMD)a trained pub-lic safety telecommunicator with additional training and spe-cific emergency medical knowledge essential for the efficientmanagement of emergency medical communications.3.1.3 emergency medical dispatch prior
23、ity reference system(EMDPRS)a medically approved reference system used by alocal dispatch agency to dispatch aid to medical emergencies,which includes: systematized caller interrogation questions,systematized pre-arrival instructions, and protocols matchingthe dispatchers evaluation of injury or ill
24、ness severity withvehicle response mode and configuration.3.1.3.1 DiscussionAn EMDPRS is not any particularproprietary set of cards or questions. It is a generic set ofprotocols meeting this description.3.1.4 EMD preceptorshipa supervised dispatcher intern-ship sponsored by the training agency.3.1.5
25、 EMD selectionthe process that establishes criteria toidentify a candidate for training as an emergency medicaldispatcher (EMD).3.1.6 pre-arrival instructionstelephone rendered, medi-cally approved written instructions given by trained emergencymedical dispatchers through callers that help to provid
26、e aid tothe victim and control of the situation prior to patient access bypre-hospital care providers.3.1.7 public safety telecommunicatoran individual trainedto communicate by electronic means with persons seekingemergency assistance and with agencies and individuals pro-viding such assistance.4. S
27、ignificance and Use4.1 The emergency medical dispatcher should be a speciallytrained telecommunicator with specific emergency medicalknowledge. These EMS personnel have traditionally per-formed this role without the benefits of dispatch specificmedical training and medically sound protocols. Prompt,
28、correct, and appropriate patient care can be enhanced with theuse of a standardized approach to selection, training andperformance assessment. This standard guide is intended foruse by agencies, organizations and jurisdictions having theresponsibility for providing the training, practice, and evalua
29、-tion of emergency medical dispatchers.5. Instructor Qualifications5.1 All instructors shall be thoroughly knowledgeable aboutthe emergency medical dispatching environment and with theworking environment of public safety telecommunications.5.2 It is essential that the emergency medical dispatchinstr
30、uctor be capable of understanding, adequately presenting,and defending ALS level-Dispatch Life Support information.This necessitates that the instructor responsible for teaching themedical portion of the training program have training, skill,and experience at the advanced EMT (EMT-I/EMT-P) level.Alt
31、ernatively, this instructor may be a critical care trainedphysician, nurse or physician assistant. This level of instructorqualification is necessary to facilitate the students understand-ing of medical classifications necessary to interrogate andevaluate the input of the caller, as well as their ab
32、ility tosystematically categorize the information obtained from thecaller and assign appropriate and locally designed responseconfigurations and modes.5.3 The instructor shall have proven competence as aninstructor in a related field.5.4 EMD instructors shall be proficient in the specific skillsand
33、concepts taught in the EMD course.5.5 Each instructor shall have successfully completed arecognized EMD training course.2Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 13.02.F 1552 94 (2002)26. Selection Criteria for Training6.1 Each EMD training entity shall adopt a formal writtenpolicy delineating the selecti
34、on procedures for individuals to betrained or employed as emergency medical dispatchers, orboth. It must address the ability to:6.1.1 Read and write at a high school graduate or GEDlevel;6.1.2 Perform those clerical skills as delineated by theemploying agency;6.1.3 Perform verbal skills in a clear a
35、nd understandablemanner, in the required language or languages established inthe criteria as necessary to that dispatch provider agency;6.1.4 Perform alpha-numeric transcription skills necessaryto correctly record addresses, locations, and telephone num-bers; and,6.1.5 Demonstrate competency in basi
36、c telecommunicationsskills as defined by the training or hiring agency.6.2 Selection criteria should also include the followingtraits:6.2.1 A clear attribute of helpfulness and compassion to-ward the sick or injured patient and the caller advocate;6.2.2 The attributes necessary to clearly guide call
37、ers incrisis through necessary interrogation procedures and theprovision of telephone pre-arrival instructions;6.2.3 The attributes of learning necessary to master theskills, philosophy, and knowledge required to successfullycomplete the training process;6.2.4 The attributes necessary to efficiently
38、 and effectivelyorganize multiple tasks and complicated situations and activi-ties;6.2.5 The ability to handle the known levels of emotionalstress clearly present in caller/patient crisis intervention, deathand dying situations, call prioritization and triage, and multipletasking;6.2.6 The abilities
39、 necessary to function within the teamframework of public safety and EMS systems;6.2.7 The abilities to elicit and assimilate caller informationand then to prioritize but appropriately consolidate (summa-rize) this information in a format used to inform the publicsafety responders.7. Emergency Medic
40、al Dispatcher Training CurriculumGuidelines7.1 The EMD curriculum must be specific to this subspe-cialty of telecommunications and emergency medical systems.7.2 The EMD curriculum used shall consist of lesson planswith defined educational goals and objectives. The lesson plansand their individual ob
41、jectives shall coincide with the practicestandards listed in reference documents and in the appendix.The EMD training curriculum shall address the concepts ofdesign and the application of skills necessary for the appropri-ate use of the EMDPRS utilized within their dispatch agency.7.3 The curriculum
42、 used shall include the learning goalscontained in this practice.7.4 The specific curriculum used must follow a logical andprogressive sequence of presentation.7.5 The medical portion of the emergency medical dispatchpriority reference system (EMDPRS) shall not be modified orchanged in any manner by
43、 the instructing agency or instructors.8. Emergency Medical Dispatcher Course Goals andMinimum Time Allocations8.1 This course provides instruction and skills practicesufficient to achieve EMD certification eligibility. The mini-mum time allocation of this course shall be 24 h.8.2 The following EMD
44、course goals are delineated withtheir associated minimum time allocations. Although 19 h aremandated, all 24 h of the EMD course must be utilized inteaching these required goals. The remaining 5 h are to bedispersed so the learning goals may be tailored to each trainingagencies requirements. It is i
45、mperative the “no less than”(NLT) hours be followed when developing an EMD course.8.3 Develop a basic understanding of the rationale foremergency medical dispatching including (NLT 1 hour):8.3.1 The history of EMD,8.3.2 The evolution of EMD,8.3.3 The philosophy of EMD,8.3.4 Common misconceptions of
46、EMD,8.4 Develop a basic understanding of the roles and respon-sibilities of EMD: (NLT 1 h),8.4.1 The sub-roles and segments of the duties,8.4.2 Professional subspecialties,8.4.2.1 Public safety community,8.4.2.2 Law enforcement,8.4.2.3 Fire communications,8.4.2.4 EMS communications,8.4.2.5 The medic
47、al community team,8.4.2.6 A colleague of the medical profession,8.5 Develop an understanding of the medical-legal aspectsof EMD (NLT 1 h),8.5.1 The legal concepts affecting the EMD,8.5.1.1 Negligence,8.5.1.2 Abandonment,8.5.1.3 Foreseeability,8.5.2 Misconceptions and inappropriate concerns, and8.5.3
48、 Appropriate concerns.8.6 Gain the knowledge necessary to successfully interro-gate callers to obtain relevant information (NLT 1 h):8.6.1 Rationale for interrogation,8.6.2 Understand the psychology of the caller,8.6.3 Chief complaint determination,8.6.4 The callers hysteria threshold,8.6.5 The conc
49、ept of repetitive persistence, and8.6.6 The types of callers (minority groups, third party,children, disabled and speech impaired, and so forth).8.7 Develop an understanding of the concepts of dispatchlife support (DLS) and the psychological aspects of providingpre-arrival instructions (NLT 1 h):8.7.1 Practical limitations confronting the EMD, and8.7.2 Predictable events affecting DLS delivery.8.8 Develop an understanding of the methodologies fordelivering pre-arrival instructions and demonstrate the practi-cal use of the pre-arrival instructions (NLT 1 h):F 1552 94 (2002)38
