Virginia Office of EMS Accreditation for PSAP’s and 911 Centers

Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) is an advanced form of dispatch communications based on specific training and established protocols to help provide initial medical assistance over the telephone until EMS resources arrive on the scene. The information obtained from the caller assists in determining the level of care the person in need will receive and the proper response of available resources.

A: Implementation of an emergency medical dispatch system meeting or exceeding standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and accepted and recognized by the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM). Examples of approved systems include, but are not limited to, programs offered by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officers, International (APCO), Powerphone®, Priority Dispatch® or National Emergency Communications Institute®.

B: One hundred percent (100%) of communications personnel, whose job description include call taking, shall be certified as an emergency medical dispatcher through an approved EMD program (as described in section A) within 2 years of employment.

C: Emergency Medical Dispatchers must be trained and certified by an OEMS recognized emergency dispatch training organization meeting or exceeding standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and accepted and recognized by the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM). Examples of approved systems include, but are not limited to, programs offered by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officers, International (APCO), Powerphone®, Priority Dispatch® or National Emergency Communications Institute®.

D: Minimum one person with EMD certification (as described in section A) on duty at the PSAP or EMS dispatch center at all times.

E: A minimum 20 hours training, annually, of continuing EMD/EMS communications education per PSAP or 911 Center. This may include in-house training and/or sending of communications personnel for outside training. Cooperative training with other OEMS accredited agencies count as completion of requirement.

F: A Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement process to assure EMD system compliance. This will consist of call review and/or call monitoring. An emergency dispatch agency or public safety answering point will provide an annual Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement report to the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services, in a format approved (or prescribed) by the Virginia Office of EMS, demonstrating a minimum average yearly score of 85% total compliance of emergency medical dispatch protocols being employed.  (Effective January 1st, 2012)

G: An annual report submitted to OEMS documenting compliance with all guidelines set by OEMS for accreditation. This will include program implementation and training documentation.

H: These standards must also be accepted by a currently endorsed EMS Physician (as defined in Virginia EMS Regulations; 12 VAC 5-31-1800 & 1810). A letter signed by same EMS Physician must accompany the initial application for accreditation and all subsequent documentation submitted for recurring approvals.

Please complete the application, print a copy for your records, then submit it via email to Amber Wells. Please use the appropriate checklist below to ensure you submit all necessary supporting documentation with your completed application for initial or re-accreditation.

• Checklist for Initial Application for PSAP Accreditation
• Checklist for Application for PSAP Re-Accreditation

This information may also be mailed to:

Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services
Attn: EMD Accreditation Coordinator
1041 Technology Park Dr.
Glen Allen Va. 23059

Note: Applications will not be considered until all documentation has been received by OEMS.

• EMD Application Form
• APCO International
• National Academies of Emergency Dispatch
• Power Phone, Inc.
• National Emergency Communications Institute