HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-11-153 - ROW Emergency Dispatch Model1
Staff Report
I~`r~.x~,ivER CommunityServicesDepartment www.kitchenerta
REPORT T0: Community & Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: November 7, 2011
SUBMITTED BY: Tim Beckett, Fire Chief, 741-2926
PREPARED BY: Tim Beckett, Fire Chief, 741-2926
WARD~S~ INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: October 18, 2011
REPORT NO.: CSD -11-153
SUBJECT: REGION OF WATERLOO EMERGENCY DISPATCH
MODEL REVIEW UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION:
For information
BACKGROUND:
In adopting the recommendations of the 2007 Emergency Medical Services Master Plan, the
Region of Waterloo established a Dispatch Model working group to evaluate a full range of
emergency services dispatching options. A consultant was hired by the Region to assess cost
and effectiveness of the current model, conduct an environmental scan for existing dispatch
models, identify industry best practices and identify various models for consideration and how
they might work in Waterloo Region. Recommendations were not made by the consultants as
this task was left to the working group to provide to Regional Council. Recommendations
(stated below) were approved by Regional Council in December of 2009. Kitchener Council on
February 22, 2010 approved in principle the recommendations of the Dispatch Model working
group. (Report DTS-10-036).
These recommendations were:
1. Fire Services dispatching should be consolidated into one fire communications
centre co-located with the Waterloo Regional Police Communications Centre.
2. Enhanced technology, including automatic vehicle location for fire services,
electronic linking of Fire and EMS computer aided dispatch systems and pre-alert to
ambulances should be implemented to reduce response times for medical
emergencies. The committee is recommending that the Region and Municipal
governments communicate with the Province regarding these improvements to
community safety.
3. Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC) should be co-located with
Police and Fire Dispatch Services in the same facility.
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Further on June 10, 2010 Kitchener Council re-affirmed the original recommendations of the
Dispatch Model working group
The working group has continued to investigate the many aspects of the proposed co-location,
specifically around financial implications, labour relations and technology issues.
REPORT:
Originally the working group was investigating the co-location of police and fire dispatch centres
as a result of the Provincial Ministry's refusal to allow technological link between the Cambridge
Central Ambulance Communications Centre and the region's two Fire Communications Centres.
This has since changed. Through extensive advocacy by the provincial fire service
organizations the Ministry is conducting a project referred to as the Emergency Medical Service
Technological Infrastructure Framework or EMS-TIF. This project from a fire services
perspective involves the linking of Fire dispatch systems with EMS dispatch systems and
providing a simultaneous notification to both fire and EMS units. This system will allow fire
services to be notified sooner of their need to respond to a medical emergency incident that
meets apre-determined criterion.
Essentially this linking of the dispatch systems provides for a virtual co-location for fire and EMS
dispatches. The Kitchener Fire Department has been selected as an early adopter of the new
framework and staff are currently working with Ministry of Health staff and our computer aided
dispatch (CAD) vendor to implement the new system. Trials will occur over a three month
period after implementation to determine the success of decreased response times to
emergency medical responses. There are costs associated to this project with the majority of
the costs being covered by the Ministry of Health; however, the fire department will be
responsible for yearly maintenance costs on the system of approximately $9,000 and upfront
costs for licensing and CAD vendor development charges. We are still working with the CAD
vendor on pricing but do not anticipate at this time to exceed $30,000 and will be funded from
the existing Fire Department budget.
The Kitchener Fire Department, as a result of the new technology, is reviewing our current
tiered response plan with Waterloo Region EMS to ensure that it is up to date. A further report
will be presented to council once this review is completed and a proposed new tiered response
plan is developed.
The virtual link however does not preclude the working group from continuing to explore cost
reductions, improving operational efficiencies and an over all general improvement in public
safety including voice and data interoperability, co-location and space integration. Until the
overall functionality of the EMS-TIF can be confirmed, the working group is "on hold" with
respect to any further exploration.
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Staff Report
I~`r~.x~,ivER CommunityServicesDepartment www.kitchenerta
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The continuation of this working group aligns with the City strategic plan. Public Health and
Safety (improves emergency management and response) is the primary focus. It also
addresses Effective and Efficient Government in the areas of financial management (E1.5);
information technology (E3.4) and organizational governance (E5.5).
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The Fire Department is anticipating that costs associated with the EMS-TIF project will be
approximately $9,000 annually and one time costs not to exceed $30,000. These will be funded
through existing fire department budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
As this is an internal business process community engagement is not anticipated at this time.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jeff Willmer, Deputy cAO csD
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