Hall County E-911 has been recognized by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) as an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) for emergency medical dispatching becoming only the 330th agency in the world with such designation.
IAED is the standard-setting organization for emergency dispatch services worldwide. Accreditation (and subsequent re-accreditation) from the IAED is the highest distinction given to emergency communication centers, certifying that the center is performing at or above the established standards for the industry, according to a news release from the county. Centers that earn ACE status are the “embodiment of dispatch done correctly and have demonstrated strong local oversight, rigorous quality processes, and a commitment to data-driven continuous improvement.”
Hall County E-911 began the journey towards accreditation last May but has utilized emergency medical dispatch protocols from IAED since 2008.
“Hall County E-911 has been providing citizens with a consistently high level of service for years by using emergency medical dispatch protocols to acquire key patient information and relay it to responders prior to their arrival,” Hall County E-911 Quality Assurance Specialist Kelsey McGahagin said. “Now, we have taken that one step further to prove that our community can rely on us for superior care by achieving ACE status.”
Hall County E-911 Division Director Amanda Letson acknowledged her team for their accomplishments.
“I am extremely proud of these men and women for the amazing job they have done throughout this process and of the customer service they provide to our citizens every hour of every day,” she said. “Hall County E-911 strives to be at the forefront of public safety communications and this is a giant step in that direction.”
According to IAED Accreditation Board Chair Christof Chwojka, accreditation is “truly a pinnacle achievement.”
Over 3,500 emergency communication centers worldwide use the medical, fire, police and emergency nurse triage protocols developed and maintained by IAED. The protocol-based system, known as the Priority Dispatch System, is recognized as the standard of care and practice for emergency dispatch and is used in 46 countries.