DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Delaware County Emergency Communications Center (ECC) in Muncie, Ind. has become the latest communications center to upgrade their APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Guidecards to the Multi-purpose Emergency Dispatch System (MEDS) software.
The Delaware County ECC is a consolidated center handling fire, emergency medical services (EMS) and law enforcement dispatch for the city of Muncie and all of Delaware County. The 39 employees of Delaware County ECC handle approximately 100,000 dispatches annually and operate with a minimum staffing level of six dispatcher/calltakers on duty at a time.
Delaware County chose APCO Institute EMD to meet the Indiana state mandate for EMD for several reasons according to Delaware County’s Training Supervisor and EMD Coordinator. This included the criteria based format, the “in-house” instructor offering and the cost effective nature of the program.
The APCO Institute MEDS software includes fire service, EMS and law enforcement dispatch guidecards in electronic format, as well as an extensive quality assurance/quality improvement component all in one package and is the only electronic version of the APCO Institute EMD Guidecards approved by the APCO Institute.
“The APCO Institute is proud to assist the Delaware County Emergency Communications Center in upgrading their EMD program and looks forward to continuing to work with their staff to provide the highest level of care possible to the community they serve,” APCO Institute Director Candice Solie said.
About APCO Institute
APCO Institute, a subsidiary of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, is the premier organization addressing educational and certification needs of public safety communications agencies. The Institute offers a selection of affordable training and educational resources for public safety communicators throughout the United States and in the international arena. Instructional offerings range from first-line basic training to supervisory, and communication center management courses, technical testing, agency and agent certification, and Web Seminars addressing current public safety communications issues. APCO Institute offers several training options including certification programs through traditional classroom instruction and APCO Institute Online internet-based training. APCO Virtual College, a cooperative effort between APCO Institute and the Institute for Emergency Preparedness (IEP) offers a degree program in Public Safety Communications. APCO Virtual College is an internet-based distance learning academic program designed for, and directed specifically toward individuals in the
public safety communication. For more information, visit www.apcoinstitute.org.
About APCO International
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications. APCO International serves the professional needs of its 15,000 members worldwide by creating a platform for setting professional standards, addressing professional issues and providing education, products and services for people who manage, operate, maintain and supply the communications systems used by police, fire and emergency medical dispatch agencies throughout the world. For more information, visit www.apcointl.org.