RE: Ambulance response times again

[Thomas Raithby <traithby@mhsqa.com>]

Alan,

I'm not familiar with the system in the UK (I'm in Canada), but most US and
Canadian systems that report on response times use fairly sophisticated
dispatching procedures. The reported response times are not all inclusive.

The example we use here is called Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System
(AMPDS). In this system, all calls through our emergency number (911) are
screened through a series of questions to determine the level of urgency.

High urgency calls are dispatched hot (with warning lights and sirens),
while lower urgency calls get a cold (normal driving) response. While there
are response time expectations for both hot and cold calls, reporting is
usually based on the system's ability to respond to urgent calls.

When I report that our system has a response time of 7 minutes or less, 90%
of the time, I'm referring to hot (urgent) calls only.

You are absolutely correct in suggesting alternate pathways for folks
seeking medical care via an emergency number. It would be a great leap of
imagination to see telephone triage to other services as you described. In
New Brunswick, there is a toll-free number to contact Telehealth. The role
of Telehealth (a government run centre) is to provide some of these
linkages, or refer callers to the emergency number (911) if that is their
judgment. But the integration is not seamless.

Thanks for the interesting discussion.

Warm regards to the list,

Tom

Thomas Raithby, BSc EMT-2 Consultant and Field Coordinator 
tel: (506) 649-2597 
fax: (506) 649-2529 
Mobile Health Services Quality Agency  www.MHSQA.com 
133 Prince William Street, Suite 802 
Saint John, NB E2L 2B5