ASTM F1552-94(2002)

Standard Practice for Training Instructor Qualification and Certification Eligibility of Emergency Medical Dispatchers

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The emergency medical dispatcher should be a specially trained telecommunicator with specific emergency medical knowledge. These EMS personnel have traditionally performed this role without the benefits of dispatch specific medical training and medically sound protocols. Prompt, correct, and appropriate patient care can be enhanced with the use of a standardized approach to selection, training and performance assessment. This standard guide is intended for use by agencies, organizations and jurisdictions having the responsibility for providing the training, practice, and evaluation of emergency medical dispatchers.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the training structure and primary function of emergency medical dispatchers. The primary function of the emergency medical dispatcher is the management of calls for emergency medical assistance as outlined in Practice F 1258 and NAEMSP Position Paper on emergency medical dispatch. Training as an emergency medical technician, paramedic, nurse, physician, or basic telecommunicator does not prepare a person to function as an EMD. The emergency medical dispatching functions have become so specialized that only an individual with dispatch specific medical training can perform the required tasks. This practice will delineate the training structure for the essential role of emergency medical dispatcher.
1.2 This practice is intended to outline the basic areas of knowledge required for an EMD, and to standardize the expectations and training between the various educational settings that are available to deliver the EMD training. This practice is not intended to serve as a curriculum for a training agency. All curricula developed or selected shall include the key components outlined in this practice.
1.3 It is understood that each agency may possess special and unique needs related to the training of EMDs. However, those specialty training areas that lie outside the scope of this standard shall not be included in selected 24 h minimum curriculum delineated by this practice. Additional training as desired may be annexed but may not supplant the learning goals required by this practice.
1.4 The scope of this standard includes:
1.4.1 EMD instructor qualifications,
1.4.2 Student selection criteria for emergency medical dispatcher candidates,
1.4.3 Emergency medical dispatcher training curriculum guideline,
1.4.4 Guidelines for EMD course goals and minimum time allocations,
1.4.5 Testing and evaluation of the student utilizing the stated course goals as basis for certification or certification eligibility as an emergency medical dispatcher,
1.4.6 Recommended equipment, materials, and facilities for training,
1.4.7 Guidelines for training course administration and record maintenance, and
1.4.8 Guidelines for an optional EMD preceptorship.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Aug-1994
• ICS: 11.160 - First aid
• Technical Committee: F30 - Emergency Medical Services
• Drafting Committee: F30.02 - Personnel, Training and Education

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F1552-94 - Standard Practice for Training Instructor Qualification and Certification Eligibility of Emergency Medical Dispatchers
• Effective Date: 15-Aug-1994
• Replaced By: ASTM F1552-94(2009) - Standard Practice for Training Instructor Qualification and Certification Eligibility of Emergency Medical Dispatchers
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F1258-95(2022) - Standard Practice for Emergency Medical Dispatch
• Effective Date: 15-Aug-1994
• Referred By: ASTM F1220-95(2022) - Standard Guide for Emergency Medical Services System (EMSS) Telecommunications
• Effective Date: 15-Aug-1994
• Referred By: ASTM F1229-01(2016) - Standard Guide for Qualification and Training of EMS Air Medical Patient Care Providers
• Effective Date: 15-Aug-1994
• Referred By: ASTM F1560-00(2022) - Standard Practice for Emergency Medical Dispatch Management
• Effective Date: 15-Aug-1994

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: F 1552 – 94 (Reapproved 2002)
Standard Practice for
Training Instructor Qualification and Certification Eligibility
of Emergency Medical Dispatchers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1552; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The emergency medical dispatcher (EMD) is the principal link between the public requesting
emergency medical assistance and the emergency medical services (EMS) system. The EMD plays a
key role in the ability of the EMS system to respond to a perceived medical emergency. The benefits
of specifically trained emergency medical dispatchers are far reaching. Through medical dispatch,
specific education, and compliance to medically sound policies and procedures, the EMD is able to
accurately interrogate the caller, dispatch the appropriate responders, provide pertinent information to
responders, and give instructions to aid patients via the caller.
This practice provides direction for the training and certification of emergency medical dispatchers
to assist them in making appropriate decisions about EMS responses in a safe, consistent and
non-arbitrary manner. EMS systems with emergency medical dispatchers trained to this practice
provide pre-arrival instructions to the caller to assist the patient until pre-hospital care arrives. The
EMD concept provides for safer vehicle response configurations and modes. It may reduce operating
costs by preserving specialized EMS resources for those emergencies requiring them.
The EMD training curriculum is not intended to furnish all inclusive telecommunications education
required for the emergency medical dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator. EMD training
provides only the additional education affecting the practice of dispatching emergency medical
resources such as ambulances, rescue units, first responder units and other types of responding units
of an emergency medical nature; coordinating these response units with those of other public safety
agencies; and providing instructions to the calling party to assist in preserving life prior to the arrival
of responding units. The curriculum is intended to provide specific knowledge and medical
information 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 services
telecommunicators. It is a subspecialty of both public safety communications and emergency medical
services systems that is required within a comprehensive public safety communications center where
other disciplines of communications are practiced and should be present in all EMS systems.
Additional disciplines include law enforcement, fire, and aeromedical telecommunications.
This practice is one of a set of applicable standards relating to the emergency medical dispatch
function. The reader is directed to obtain relatedASTM documents that encompass the administration
of EMD programs and Practice F 1258.
1. Scope F 1258 and NAEMSP Position Paper on emergency medical
dispatch. Training as an emergency medical technician, para-
1.1 This practice covers the training structure and primary
medic, nurse, physician, or basic telecommunicator does not
function of emergency medical dispatchers. The primary func-
prepare a person to function as an EMD. The emergency
tionoftheemergencymedicaldispatcheristhemanagementof
medical dispatching functions have become so specialized that
calls for emergency medical assistance as outlined in Practice
only an individual with dispatch specific medical training can
perform the required tasks. This practice will delineate the
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F30 on Emergency
training structure for the essential role of emergency medical
Medical Services and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F30.02 on
dispatcher.
Personnel, Training and Education.
Current edition approved August 15, 1994. Published October 1994.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F 1552 – 94 (2002)
1.2 This practice is intended to outline the basic areas of the dispatcher’s evaluation of injury or illness severity with
knowledge required for an EMD, and to standardize the vehicle response mode and configuration.
expectations and training between the various educational
3.1.3.1 Discussion—An EMDPRS is not any particular
settings that are available to deliver the EMD training. This
proprietary set of cards or questions. It is a generic set of
practice is not intended to serve as a curriculum for a training
protocols meeting this description.
agency. All curricula developed or selected shall include the
3.1.4 EMD preceptorship—a supervised dispatcher intern-
key components outlined in this practice.
ship sponsored by the training agency.
1.3 It is understood that each agency may possess special
3.1.5 EMD selection—theprocessthatestablishescriteriato
and unique needs related to the training of EMDs. However,
identify a candidate for training as an emergency medical
those specialty training areas that lie outside the scope of this
dispatcher (EMD).
standard shall not be included in selected 24 h minimum
3.1.6 pre-arrival instructions—telephone rendered, medi-
curriculum delineated by this practice. Additional training as
cally approved written instructions given by trained emergency
desired may be annexed but may not supplant the learning
medical dispatchers through callers that help to provide aid to
goals required by this practice.
the victim and control of the situation prior to patient access by
1.4 The scope of this standard includes:
pre-hospital care providers.
1.4.1 EMD instructor qualifications,
3.1.7 public safety telecommunicator—anindividualtrained
1.4.2 Student selection criteria for emergency medical dis-
to communicate by electronic means with persons seeking
patcher candidates,
emergency assistance and with agencies and individuals pro-
1.4.3 Emergency medical dispatcher training curriculum
viding such assistance.
guideline,
1.4.4 Guidelines for EMD course goals and minimum time
4. Significance and Use
allocations,
1.4.5 Testing and evaluation of the student utilizing the 4.1 The emergency medical dispatcher should be a specially
stated course goals as basis for certification or certification trained telecommunicator with specific emergency medical
knowledge. These EMS personnel have traditionally per-
eligibility as an emergency medical dispatcher,
1.4.6 Recommended equipment, materials, and facilities for formed this role without the benefits of dispatch specific
medical training and medically sound protocols. Prompt,
training,
1.4.7 Guidelines for training course administration and correct, and appropriate patient care can be enhanced with the
use of a standardized approach to selection, training and
record maintenance, and
1.4.8 Guidelines for an optional EMD preceptorship. performance assessment. This standard guide is intended for
use by agencies, organizations and jurisdictions having the
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility for providing the training, practice, and evalua-
tion of emergency medical dispatchers.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Instructor Qualifications
5.1 All instructors shall be thoroughly knowledgeable about
2. Referenced Documents
the emergency medical dispatching environment and with the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
working environment of public safety telecommunications.
F 1177 Terminology Relating to Emergency Medical Ser-
5.2 It is essential that the emergency medical dispatch
vices
instructor be capable of understanding, adequately presenting,
F 1258 Practice for Emergency Medical Dispatch
and defending ALS level-Dispatch Life Support information.
Thisnecessitatesthattheinstructorresponsibleforteachingthe
3. Terminology
medical portion of the training program have training, skill,
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
and experience at the advanced EMT (EMT-I/EMT-P) level.
3.1.1 coding—the selection and assignment of an alphanu-
Alternatively, this instructor may be a critical care trained
meric classification to a call by an EMD.
physician, nurse or physician assistant. This level of instructor
3.1.2 emergency medical dispatcher (EMD)—a trained pub-
qualification is necessary to facilitate the student’s understand-
lic safety telecommunicator with additional training and spe-
ing of medical classifications necessary to interrogate and
cific emergency medical knowledge essential for the efficient
evaluate the input of the caller, as well as their ability to
management of emergency medical communications.
systematically categorize the information obtained from the
3.1.3 emergency medical dispatch priority reference system
caller and assign appropriate and locally designed response
(EMDPRS)—a medically approved reference system used by a
configurations and modes.
local dispatch agency to dispatch aid to medical emergencies,
5.3 The instructor shall have proven competence as an
which includes: systematized caller interrogation questions,
instructor in a related field.
systematized pre-arrival instructions, and protocols matching
5.4 EMD instructors shall be proficient in the specific skills
and concepts taught in the EMD course.
5.5 Each instructor shall have successfully completed a
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 13.02. recognized EMD training course.
F 1552 – 94 (2002)
6. Selection Criteria for Training 7.5 The medical portion of the emergency medical dispatch
priority reference system (EMDPRS) shall not be modified or
6.1 Each EMD training entity shall adopt a formal written
changedinanymannerbytheinstructingagencyorinstructors.
policydelineatingtheselectionproceduresforindividualstobe
trained or employed as emergency medical dispatchers, or
8. Emergency Medical Dispatcher Course Goals and
both. It must address the ability to:
Minimum Time Allocations
6.1.1 Read and write at a high school graduate or GED
8.1 This course provides instruction and skills practice
level;
sufficient to achieve EMD certification eligibility. The mini-
6.1.2 Perform those clerical skills as delineated by the
mum time allocation of this course shall be 24 h.
employing agency;
8.2 The following EMD course goals are delineated with
6.1.3 Perform verbal skills in a clear and understandable
their associated minimum time allocations. Although 19 h are
manner, in the required language or languages established in
mandated, all 24 h of the EMD course must be utilized in
the criteria as necessary to that dispatch provider agency;
teaching these required goals. The remaining 5 h are to be
6.1.4 Perform alpha-numeric transcription skills necessary
dispersed so the learning goals may be tailored to each training
to correctly record addresses, locations, and telephone num-
agencies requirements. It is imperative the “no less than”
bers; and,
(NLT) hours be followed when developing an EMD course.
6.1.5 Demonstratecompetencyinbasictelecommunications
8.3 Develop a basic understanding of the rationale for
skills as defined by the training or hiring agency.
emergency medical dispatching including (NLT 1 hour):
6.2 Selection criteria should also include the following
8.3.1 The history of EMD,
traits:
8.3.2 The evolution of EMD,
6.2.1 A clear attribute of helpfulness and compassion to-
8.3.3 The philosophy of EMD,
ward the sick or injured patient and the caller advocate;
8.3.4 Common misconceptions of EMD,
6.2.2 The attributes necessary to clearly guide callers in
8.4 Develop a basic understanding of the roles and respon-
crisis through necessary interrogation procedures and the
sibilities of EMD: (NLT 1 h),
provision of telephone pre-arrival instructions;
8.4.1 The sub-roles and segments of the duties,
6.2.3 The attributes of learning necessary to master the
8.4.2 Professional subspecialties,
skills, philosophy, and knowledge required to successfully
8.4.2.1 Public safety community,
complete the training process;
8.4.2.2 Law enforcement,
6.2.4 The attributes necessary to efficiently and effectively
8.4.2.3 Fire communications,
organize multiple tasks and complicated situations and activi-
8.4.2.4 EMS communications,
ties;
8.4.2.5 The medical community team,
6.2.5 The ability to handle the known levels of emotional
8.4.2.6 A colleague of the medical profession,
stress clearly present in caller/patient crisis intervention, death
8.5 Develop an understanding of the medical-legal aspects
and dying situations, call prioritization and triage, and multiple
of EMD (NLT 1 h),
tasking;
8.5.1 The legal concepts affecting the EMD,
6.2.6 The abilities necessary to function within the team
8.5.1.1 Negligence,
framework of public safety and EMS systems;
8.5.1.2 Abandonment,
6.2.7 The abilities to elicit and assimilate caller information
8.5.1.3 Foreseeability,
and then to prioritize but appropriately consolidate (summa-
8.5.2 Misconceptions and inappropriate concerns, and
rize) this information in a format used to inform the public
8.5.3 Appropriate concerns.
safety responders.
8.6 Gain the knowledge necessary to successfully interro-
gate callers to obtain relevant information (NLT 1 h):
7. Emergency Medical Dispatcher Training Curriculum
8.6.1 Rationale for interrogation,
Guidelines
8.6.2 Understand the psychology of the caller,
7.1 The EMD curriculum must be specific to this subspe- 8.6.3 Chief complaint determination,
cialty of telecommunications and emergency medical systems.
8.6.4 The caller’s hysteria threshold,
7.2 The EMD curriculum used shall consist of lesson plans 8.6.5 The concept of repetitive persistence, and
withdefinededucationalgoalsandobjectives.Thelessonplans 8.6.6 The types of callers (minority groups, third party,
and their individual objectives shall coincide with the practice
children, disabled and speech impaired, and so forth).
standards listed in reference documents and in the appendix.
8.7 Develop an understanding of the concepts of dispatch
The EMD training curriculum shall address the concepts of
life support (DLS) and the psychological aspects of providing
design and the application of skills necessary for the appropri-
pre-arrival instructions (NLT 1 h):
ate use of the EMDPRS utilized within their
...