HomeMy WebLinkAboutmemo-dispatch-questioning-update
Colleen Chawla, HCSA Director
Lauri McFadden, EMS Director
Karl Sporer, MD, Medical Director
Main: (510) 618-2050
Fax: (510) 618-2099
ALAMEDA COUNTY HEALTH CARE SERVICES AGENCY
Emergency Medical Services Agency
1000 San Leandro Blvd, Suite 200
San Leandro, CA 94577
MEMORANDUM
TO: Rosa Ramos, ACRECC
Darrell Lee, Oakland Fire Department
FROM: Dr. Karl Sporer, EMS Medical Director
DATE: March 5, 2020
RE: Modification of Dispatch Questioning COVID-19
Due to the geographical spread of COVID-19, in concert with guidance from the CDC and the
Association of Bay Area Health Officials (ABAHO), please modify your dispatcher scripting
and/or the Emerging Infectious Disease Surveillance Tool (EIDS) in your CAD to include
screening for recent travel within the last 14 days to China, Iran, South Korea, Italy and/or
Japan.
The screening should continue to ask about patient symptoms to include the presence of
fever, chills, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent cough, or nasal
congestion (blocked nose).
All patients that identified as Sick Patients (MPDS Card 26) or Breathing Problems (MPDS
Card 6) through the EMD process shall be screened utilizing this line of questioning.
The responding crews will be notified of any positive travel or symptom screening
patient via detailed information about travel history and symptoms on their mobile data terminal.
In addition, the dispatch center will verbally convey over the radio to the responding
crews “Please check your MDT for additional information”.
These modifications need to be made as soon as possible in order to align with the most current
information available, provide the greatest opportunity to warn our providers so they can
exercise the proper PPE and precautions, as well as maintain consistency within our region.
Please notify me as soon as the changes are implemented.
Thank you,
Dr. Karl Sporer
Alameda County EMS
Medical Director
CC: EMS Section
Alameda County Fire Chiefs