It’s been two weeks since American Medical Response Billings and the Billings City/County Dispatch Center have strengthened communications through CAD-to-CAD. This system, which stands for Computer-Aided Dispatch, simply means AMR receives the same emergency dispatch information, at the same time as other local first responders.
“With the system previously in place, our dispatchers received information, typed in a narrative that went to AMR dispatch in Spokane, then sent their narrative to ambulances back in Billings. So there was a delay,” explained Billings Fire Department Chief Pepper Valdez during a November City Council Work Session.
In just one week’s time, the AMR staff in Billings could see the system working as planned.
“This project has been a work in progress for a long time and we are excited to increase communication and interoperability with the Billings 911 center. This interface is projected to significantly decrease the time it takes to dispatch an ambulance, and when someone is critically ill, every second counts,” said Brady Drescher, AMR’s Chief of Operations for Billings.
"Like" the American Medical Response Billings page for health and safety information, and visit https://www.amr.net/?Location=billings to learn about their role in our community, including their “Earn While You Learn” EMT program.
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