Barry County Emergency Services E9-1-1 has been recognized by The International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) as an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) for Emergency Police Dispatching (EPD).
Barry County Emergency Services E9-1-1 is the 27th EPD ACE in the world. IAED is the standard-setting organization for emergency dispatch services worldwide. Accreditation (and subsequent re-accreditation) from the IAED is the highest distinction given to emergency communication centers, certifying that the center is performing at or above the established standards for the industry.
Centers who earn ACE status are the embodiment of dispatch done right, and have demonstrated strong local oversight, rigorous quality processes, and a commitment to data-driven continuous improvement.
This is a new accreditation for Barry County Emergency Services E9-1-1 makes it the 27th dispatch center in the world to earn one, and only the second dispatch center in the World that is dual accredited in Emergency Medical Dispatching and Emergency Police Dispatching. The center also uses all three Priority Dispatch SystemTM outline (Medical, Fire and Police).
“I am very proud to make this announcement,” said Mike Phillips, ENP, Barry County Emergency Services E9-1-1 executive director. “This agency has been working on this for a while, and we are excited that we have met these standards and performance points. This shows our citizens and agencies we work with they have some of the best emergency dispatchers available working in our county. This group has demonstrated a willingness ‘to be better’ and this accreditation reflects the work and dedication it takes from staff to accomplish this agency goal.”
“Accreditation is truly a pinnacle achievement,” said Christof Chwojka, accreditation board chair at IAED. “We applaud the dedicated call-takers, dispatchers, and leadership team at Barry County Emergency Services E9-1-1 for their commitment to quality, and for meeting that high standard that few achieve. We know their community can count on these first, first responders to do an outstanding job.”
IAED will present Barry County Emergency Services E9-1-1 with an Accreditation plaque that commemorates their achievement. IAED Accreditation is the culmination of a lengthy, arduous process that includes the completion of the 20 Points of Accreditation, a detailed evaluation of performance by industry experts, and a final review and ruling by IAED.
‘This process is undertaken by communications centers who desire to be the best of the best,” said Kim Rigden, associate director of accreditation, IAED. “Achieving ACE confirms it. [Agency] should be very proud of this achievement and the wonderful service they provide to the community and their emergency responders.’
Accreditation is valid for a three-year period, during which all standards must be upheld. Emergency communication centers can earn multiple accreditations, one for each emergency discipline they service (medical, fire, police, and emergency nurse triage).
More than 3,500 emergency communication centers worldwide use the medical, fire, police, and emergency nurse triage protocols developed and maintained by the IAED. The protocol-based system — known as the Priority Dispatch SystemTM — is recognized as the standard of care and practice for emergency dispatch, and is used in 46 countries.
For more than 40 years, the IAED has been the standard-setting organization for emergency dispatch and response services worldwide, and is the leading body of emergency dispatch experts. It is a member-driven association working to serve the public through the professional development of dispatchers. IAED’s various boards and councils work on behalf of the membership — and in coordination with other public safety organizations — to ensure that the comprehensive system of emergency dispatching is as safe, fast, effective and up-to-date as possible.
