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FOCUS Consolidation of Communication Centers combined benefts of well-developed and well-managed protocols provide the best possible shield against potential liability problems,��� Knight said. Although many states have passed legislation setting minimum training directives for 9-1-1 calltakers, the standard for this training minimum can vary widely. This leads to some agencies offering optimum services due to enhanced training and use of standardized protocols, while other, less effcient agencies provide a lower level of service, leaving them open to litigation. In addition, implementing consolidated dispatching in states that place responsibility for answering 9-1-1 calls on individual cities or counties can lead to jurisdictional issues from both a legal and tax revenue standpoint. The beneft of consolidated centers over individual agencies is that most are overseen by a committee of participating agencies that encourages diversifed opinions on how to in- crease effciency. Single agencies frequently get bogged down with a ���this is how we have always done it��� attitude, which could possibly have a negative effect on operations. Knight said, ���Overall, it���s practical to assume that legal issues involving consolidated dispatch centers would be minimized by increased emphasis on how the center operates through input from its multiple agency users.��� Dakota Communications Center With a population of over 400,000 covering an area of approximately 562 square miles, Dakota County is the third most populous county in Minnesota. In 2004, the County partnered with 11 city councils to identify High Performance Partnerships that would provide enhanced emergency services while reducing costs. The result of this collaboration was the Dakota Communications Center (DCC), a joint dispatch center PRIORITY DISPATCH PROQA SOFTWARE Software quickly and accurately classifes calls. By Susan Geoghegan www.prioritydispatch.net Priority Dispatch Corp��� (PDC) is a unique research company that utilizes a comprehensive systems approach to develop innovative products and training for emergency calltaking centers. As the only dispatch system provider with an in-house research and development team, PDC has been approved by a recognized body of industry experts, the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED). In addition to providing software products for law enforcement, fre departments, and 9-1-1 emergency centers, the company offers certifcation courses, product training for the software and protocols, basic telecommunicator instruction, and leadership seminars. Integrating the power of the NAED protocols with today���s critical computer technologies, ProQA�� Dispatch Software allows dispatchers to quickly and accurately classify each incoming call and assign it a specifc determinant code. ProQA then guides dispatchers in providing all relevant postdispatch and pre-arrival instructions, as well as critical case completion information. Designed to integrate with most CAD and phone systems, ProQA is available in three versions: fre (EFD), medical (EMD), and police (EPD). ProQA software consists of fve tabs that assist calltakers in quickly and effciently handling all emergency calls. In the Case Entry tab, all critical information, such as caller name, address, callback number, and Chief Complaint, is documented and displayed on the screen���s Status Bar and Tool Bar. When the caller describes the emergency, the calltaker clicks on the appropriate link from the drop-down list of life-threatening situations located on the screen. Specifc instructions for each of the three protocols (EFD, EMD, and EPD) are provided, and dispatch and pre-arrival instructions are immediately initiated. The Key Questions tab provides quick and easy navigation 26 LAW and ORDER I February 2013 ProQA allows quick call classification. with a drop-down menu that presents questions appropriate for the selected Chief Complaint. When descriptions of people or vehicles are required, Description Essential gathering tools allow calltakers to enter the descriptions into a standardized database format. Dispatchers can navigate through ProQA with the keyboard���s enter, tab, arrow, and hot keys; with a mouse; or a combination of both.