Medical Priority Dispatch System

The Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS, pronounced: em-pee-dee-ess) is a unified system used by emergency dispatch centers to respond to medical emergencies. It was developed to prioritize emergency calls according to the severity of the patient's condition and to provide telephone instructions to the caller before the arrival of paramedics.

Etymology

The term "Medical Priority Dispatch System" is derived from its function. "Medical" refers to its application in the healthcare sector, "Priority" signifies the system's role in determining the urgency of the situation, and "Dispatch System" indicates its use in coordinating and sending out emergency response teams.

History

The MPDS was first introduced in the late 1970s by Dr. Jeff Clawson, a Salt Lake City emergency room doctor who saw the need for a more efficient and effective system for dispatching emergency medical services. The system has since been adopted by emergency dispatch centers around the world.

Function

The MPDS uses a series of scripted questions to determine the nature and severity of a caller's emergency. Based on the answers, the dispatcher assigns a priority level to the call and provides pre-arrival instructions to the caller. The system also guides the dispatcher in deciding what type of emergency response is needed, such as ambulance, fire department, or police.

Related Terms

Emergency Medical Services (EMS): A network of services coordinated to provide aid and medical assistance from the scene of an emergency to the hospital.
Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD): A professional telecommunicator, tasked with the gathering of information related to medical emergencies, the provision of assistance and instructions by voice, and the dispatching and support of EMS resources.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): A health professional who provides basic emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients.
Paramedic: A healthcare professional who provides emergency treatment, including advanced life support, to patients in emergency situations.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Medical Priority Dispatch System
Wikipedia's article - Medical Priority Dispatch System

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Medical Priority Dispatch System