This presentation was developed to introduce our dispatch service to prospective clients and to present the new and potential features to our existing Clients.

In 1991 a need was identified to develop a system for recording incoming calls and monitoring their progress and creating a tamper proof audit trail.  By 1992 a version of program was in use.  Problems soon became apparent.  Transfers were difficult to book, more info was needed and different format required and only one unit could be tracked at a time per call.  In 1993 Dispatch staff were trained to EMD standards and MPDS Cards brought into use.  With MPDS, and the Zero response time concept giving Pre-arrival instruction to the caller, consistency and accuracy of dispatching is improved.  In 1995 we began in house development of a replacement program.  Several versions were developed before  the system was decided upon, because of its ability to support a variety of systems and platforms and its ability to be upgraded to meet new challenges.  The program to be developed was to compile an audit trail of all the call taking information gathered as well as the response times and to provide an enhanced system for booking inter-facility transfers. Provision was also to be made for the tracking of first responders, support units, and multiple ambulances.  By 1996 the new program was in use.  Archival databases were created to maintain a database of all completed calls for historical purposes.  Call Auditing Program was developed to analyze calls done by date dispatcher and station responded.  As the  regional center developed programs expanded to handle calls for multiple services and bill accordingly.  By 1998 the program had been revised to include police and fire screens and to identify caller location from phone numbers.  It also correctly identifies the closest station from the callers phone number.  Most of the forms were replaced with tabbed pages for faster access to the data.  A module was developed to allow a communication technician to monitor 36 units simultaneously independent of the call taking.  A third module (the supervisor's module) was developed to allow a supervisor to monitor both the Comm. Tech and the call taker operation and to provide access to and editing of the background data.  An improved billing and reporting package was also built in Access for month end reporting. The Program continues to evolve as new challenges are met. 

The following is a very brief description of the system as it is today.