Title: Explain the functions of the emergency medical dispatcher (EMD).
Course: Emergency Medical Telecommunications (14055-V) > Section: Introducing Emergency Medical Dispatcher Roles and Responsibilities

Explanation should include

- receipt and processing of calls for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assistance
- determination of the nature and severity of the medical incident without diagnosing the medical problem or condition
- responsibility for coordinating and dispatching EMS resources, based on the predetermined response configurations found in the local medically approved EMD Guidecards
- provision of pre-arrival emergency medical assistance using local medically approved EMD Guidecards and software.

Process/Skill Questions:

- Why is an EMD an essential part of the EMS system?
- What are some of the most common myths about EMDs? Why are they incorrect?
- What is the most important part of safety for the responders?