Dispatch Screening and Procedures

In conjunction with EM and the Department of Health, we have been entering a CAD caution note on every address where a person suspected of being exposed to or being positive for COVID-19 resides. This caution note can be seen in the MDT comments as “DOH Monitoring.” Note that this designation means anything from a person just being monitored to a person being a confirmed case of COVID-19. As the number of potentially exposed citizens continues to climb, the number of SRP notifications has also climbed. In order to streamline the dispatch process and still provide the field units with the best notification, the following changes are being made:

• The call taker in ECC will no longer ask the designated series of COVID-19 questions which means they will no longer issue an SRP to responding units.
• The term SRP will no longer be used.
• Communications will announce “This location is Flagged by DOH Monitoring” at dispatch when the address is known to be on the DOH monitoring list.
• Along with announcing DOH Monitoring, crews can view that information on their MDT notes.
• The responding crews will continue to ensure all mandatory PPE is utilized on EMS and public assist alarms or any time a potential exposure exists.
• Because Communications will no longer ask the screening questions, it is imperative for the crews to use social distancing and other measures on all alarms where it is applicable and safe.
• Once on scene, crews will screen the patient by asking the provided COVID-19 questions and determine if the patient meets the “Strict Respiratory Cautions Alert” criteria. If yes, crew will notify ECC of the alert via radio and will notify the receiving facility.
• Communications will notify EMS1 on alarms “Flagged by DOH” and any “Strict Respiratory Cautions Alert.”
• On the EMS report, utilize the Alerts section to document the “Strict Respiratory Precautions Alert.”

Proposed Comm Center Instructions:

• Dispatchers will announce “This Location is Flagged by DOH Monitoring” at dispatch if the address has a DOH Monitoring caution note.
• The term SRP will no longer be used
• DOH Address entry:
  • Manny will handle this during the day.
  • Supervisors and Asst Supervisors will handle this after 1700 and on the weekends.
  • It is important to enter the locations as soon as you get the email from EM.
  • It is also important to remove those locations listed as Cleared
  • Enter the CAD caution note as “DOH Monitoring”
• Responding crews will screen patients on scene utilizing COVID-19 questioning and will determine if a “Strict Respiratory Caution Alert” is indicated. If yes, they will notify the ECC via radio of the alert.
• Communications will notify EMS1 of any DOH Monitoring alarm or “Strict Respiratory Cautions Alert”