Screw up by Chestefield Fire/EMS Dispatcher

[Stick0413]

There is an accident in Hopewell (Cedar Level and Portsmouth). All of Hopewell's medics are on other calls and they have Fort Lee responding for two patients. They needed a second medic for a third patient. Colonial Heights couldn't respond so Hopewell contacted Chesterfield. Chesterfield dispatched out to Colonial Heights (at the same streets). The medic entering Colonial Heights switched to their dispatch talkgroup and said they were entering their city. Their dispatcher advised that they did not know they needed mutual aid. The Chesterfield medic unit switched back to Chesterfield EMS Dispatch and advised. The dispatcher said Colonial Heights called and said they had an MVA and needed a 3rd medic unit and that Hopewell and Fort Lee were already there. The dispatcher called back to Colonial Heights and I guess the Colonial Heights dispatcher advised that they did not need them but Hopewell did. Chesterfield dispatched out another medic unit to the right location.

This isn't a good situation to say the least. Never heard of something quite like this. The good thing is the third patient they are responding for isn't seriously injured. Hopewell fire units advised that he had a separated shoulder.

 

[BoxAlarm187]

Pardon me if I sound a bit defensive about this post.

As a former VSP dispatcher for 5 years, and I was married to a CFEMS dispatcher for 10 years, I can tell you - mistakes happen in the dispatch center. Do comm centers strive for 100% perfection? Yes, 100% of the time they should. However, as long as there are humans involved in the dispatching process, mistakes are bound to happen. There needs to be accountability when mistakes happen, mind you.

I'm really not sure what the point of this thread was.

As for the incident in question, don't jump to conclusions before you know the facts.

 

[Stick0413]

You are taking it the wrong way and I should have maybe worded it differently. I completely understand that it happens. And as you said you still have to strive to be 100% accurate but there is no such thing as 100% accuracy in any human. I have been inside of Chesterfield's Comm Center several times and I do know they run a top notch facility. Like I said in my original post too is that it was a good thing that it wasn't a critical case. More of a no harm no foul type of deal, CFEMS ended up getting disregarded as one of Hopewell's medics cleared from JRMC, then CFEMS Medic 18 ended up being re dispatched for Mutual Aid for a seizure call. I guess I came off a little harsh because it was more of a shock factor for me (first time I've heard a boo-boo personally).