Did You Know? — Communications Medic Edition
Have you ever heard the term, “First, first responders”? Here at Austin-Travis County EMS, our team of Communications Medics embody this very title. We offer much more than a typical 9–1–1 intake and ambulance dispatch center. Our Communications Medics do, in fact, practice medicine.
Did You Know?
Our Communications Medics are Emergency Medical Technician — Basics (EMT-B) or Paramedics, and operate under the medical direction of the Austin-Travis County Office of the Medical Director. Each Medic is required to keep their Texas EMT-B or Paramedic certification current, along with IAED Certification as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher. Some of our Medics are even Aircraft Communication Specialists, with the ability to dispatch STARFlight services if needed.
Did You Know?
Just like their counterparts in the field, they respond to calls, triage medical complaints, assess life threats, and provide medical care and interventions…over the phone. Our Communications Medics are responsible for locating, triaging and providing medical self-help instructions using Medical Priority Dispatch (MPD) protocols, an international standard. These protocols have been translated into 19 languages and are used around the world. It allows our Medics to walk callers through childbirth, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, EpiPen administration, airway management and many other lifesaving interventions.
Did You Know?
Austin is known for being a technology friendly city, and our Communications Medics are reaping the full benefits of a state-of-the-art facility. Known as the Combined Transportation, Emergency, and Communications Center (CTECC), this facility provides a centralized location for emergency response coordination and cooperation across multiple agencies. Intelligent transportation systems, Computer Aided Dispatch software, 9–1–1 telephony systems, and sophisticated regional radio systems that pinpoint location ensure our Medics have everything they need at their fingertips to triage and provide medical self-help to callers.
Did You Know?
There is a zero second response time when you are a Communications Medic. Instead of an ambulance fighting its way through 5:00 p.m. Austin traffic or driving code 3 through busy streets, our Communications Medics simply pick up the phone and immediately begin giving over-the-phone instructions to the caller or patient on the other end of the line. Our Communications Medics are also responsible for managing the deployment of 38+ ambulances, multiple special event units, 2+ multi-mission capable helicopters, a regional mobile communications & command unit, a mass casualty ambulance bus and intake requests for the Region 7 Emergency Medical Task Force.
Did You know?
Austin-Travis County EMS is proud to employ over 50 team members in Communications, ranging from Medics, Clinical Specialists, Captains, Commanders, and a Division Chief. Our Communications Medics handle 400–500 calls per day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
And as we like to say… “ATCEMS Communication Medics are never out of service.”
Interested in a career with ATCEMS? Contact our Recruiting team at EMSRecruiting@austintexas.gov or give us a call at 512–974–1098. You can find dates for the hiring process elements here.
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This publication features ATCEMS work culture and the lives of our medics. *Readings from other publications posted to Medium do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Austin-Travis County EMS, the City of Austin, or Travis County*
