Resource Allocation and Prioritization Flashcards
7 cards from real EMD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Resource Allocation and Prioritization flashcards as text
When two Priority 1 calls arrive simultaneously, what should primarily guide the dispatcher's resource assignment decision?
Answer: The nature and severity of each emergency based on determinant codes
Determinant codes reflecting the nature and severity of each emergency drive resource priority when simultaneous calls compete for limited units.
What is System Status Management (SSM) in emergency dispatch?
Answer: A dynamic deployment strategy that pre-positions units based on predicted call volume and location
SSM dynamically positions units across a service area to minimize response times by anticipating where calls are most likely to occur.
A BLS unit is en route to a low-priority call when a cardiac arrest is reported nearby. What is the dispatcher's best action?
Answer: Divert the BLS unit to the cardiac arrest and reassign the low-priority call
A cardiac arrest is immediately life-threatening and justifies diverting an en-route unit from a lower-acuity assignment.
What is the primary purpose of a tiered response system in EMD?
Answer: To match the level of medical resources to the documented severity of the emergency
Tiered response aligns resource intensity with patient acuity so that ALS capability is conserved for calls that truly require it.
Under what condition should a dispatcher request mutual aid from a neighboring jurisdiction?
Answer: When local unit availability is exhausted or call volume exceeds local capacity
Mutual aid is activated when local resources cannot meet demand, ensuring continuous coverage without a service gap.
All available units are committed when a new life-threatening call is received. What is the most appropriate dispatcher action?
Answer: Activate mutual aid, provide pre-arrival instructions to the caller, and identify the unit with the shortest remaining commitment
When no units are free, simultaneous activation of mutual aid and caller instructions maintains patient safety during the coverage gap.
When is it appropriate to upgrade a BLS response to also include an ALS unit before units arrive on scene?
Answer: When dispatch information reveals ALS-level indicators such as unconsciousness, chest pain, or respiratory failure
ALS-level chief complaints identified during the initial call warrant pre-emptive ALS dispatch rather than waiting for BLS assessment.