MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Marion County Public Safety Communications (PSC) has been recognized by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch® (IAED) as an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) for emergency fire and medical dispatching.
Marion County PSC is now recognized as the 15th fire and 31st medical accredited center of excellence worldwide—marking PSC’s 6th fire and 8th medical accreditation.
This achievement highlights the expertise of PSC’s call-takers and dispatchers who provide critical support during emergencies.
“Our team continues to set the standard nationwide, delivering exceptional service with compassion, humility, and professionalism,” said Public Safety Communications Director Lisa Cahill. “Marion County residents and visitors can trust they’re in the hands of some of Florida’s most skilled telecommunicators.”
Marion County’s Public Safety Communications’ team handles more than 400,000 emergency incident calls each year. They receive more than three months of training, which prepares them to handle three types of emergency calls: emergency medical, fire and law enforcement. Their work is constantly reviewed and critiqued, because how they respond at the other end of the line in any situation can mean life or death.
“Accreditation is truly a pinnacle achievement,” said Christof Chwojka, accreditation board chair at IAED. “We applaud the dedicated call takers, dispatchers, and leadership team at Marion County Public Safety Communications for their commitment to quality, and for meeting that high standard that few achieve. We know their community can count on these first responders to do an outstanding job.”
IAED presented Marion County Public Safety Communications with an accreditation plaque that commemorates their achievement. IAED accreditation is the culmination of a lengthy, arduous process that includes the completion of the 20 points of accreditation, a detailed evaluation of performance by industry experts, and a final review and ruling by IAED.
Accreditation is valid for a three-year period, during which all standards must be upheld. Emergency communication centers can earn multiple accreditations, one for each emergency discipline they service (medical, fire, police, and emergency nurse triage).
Over 3,500 emergency communication centers worldwide use the medical, fire, police, and emergency nurse triage protocols developed and maintained by the IAED. The protocol-based system—known as the Priority Dispatch SystemTM—is recognized as the standard of care and practice for emergency dispatch and is used in 46 countries.