BCEHS Dispatching Protocols

Whereas local governments have recently been made aware that BCEHS has implemented a new process, the clinical response model for assigning paramedics, ambulances, and other resources to 911 calls, and as part of this new process, BCEHS has decided that in some cases depending on the condition of the patient, it will no longer require the support of other first responder agencies such as fire rescue services; And whereas fire rescue staff are well equipped to provide support as first responders, this ten minute window is a critical period of time and the condition of the patient can be deteriorating or the illness or injury can be more serious than first thought: Therefore be it resolved that the BCEHS be asked to revise the Clinical Response Model to ensure that other first responder agencies, such as fire rescue services, that provide pre-hospital care, are utilized for all Orange and Yellow calls because: - these call types often involve a patient whose condition is deteriorating; - these call types can be under-reported or improperly coded; - patient comfort is important and should not be excluded from consideration when a dispatcher is deciding whether to forward a call to another agency; and - all patients deserve the best possible care.