Q&A
Inquiry into presence of mental health experts in emergency dispatch
2:50:58
·
45 sec
Council Member Cabán inquires about the presence of mental health experts in emergency dispatch to assist with screening calls and training. The responses reveal that while there are medical doctors involved in creating algorithms, there are no mental health experts directly present in the dispatch room.
- FDNY has medical doctors assigned to develop algorithms used in emergency medical dispatch
- However, these experts are not physically present in the dispatch room for face-to-face interactions with dispatchers
- Cabán compares this to other cities where mental health experts are present in dispatch
- The discussion highlights a potential gap in the current dispatch system for mental health-related calls
Cesar Escobar
2:50:58
So the fire department has, as part of the emergency medical dispatch, several medical doctors that are assigned to come up with all the algorithms that are used.
Tiffany Cabán
2:51:13
But are they in dispatch?
2:51:14
It was my my question.
2:51:15
Are they doing Are they having face to face interactions and conversations with dispatchers?
2:51:19
The answer is no.
2:51:20
Thank you.
2:51:22
What's that?
2:51:24
Oh, yeah.
2:51:25
Yeah.
2:51:25
Thank you.
2:51:27
Do dispatchers get pulled off the floor for counsel after a particularly traumatic call?
2:51:31
Like, are they taking a break after some of again, this is something I I stood in the middle of a dispatch room in another city, and they had a protocol for taking folks off the floor, making sure that they're all cared for.
2:51:41
Is is that happening in dispatch?
