Responder network
A variety of methods, medical devices, responder network servers, emergency services interfaces and call center related processes are described that can help improve responder networks designed to get a medical device such as an automated external defibrillator and/or volunteer responders to the scene of a potential medical incident.
1. A computer aided dispatch system configured for use by a dispatcher at a public safety answering point (PSAP) for managing emergency calls received by the PSAP and dispatching emergency services to respond to emergency incidents, the computer aided dispatch system having an Activate Volunteer Responder Network graphical user interface (GUI) widget embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the Activate Volunteer Responder Network GUI widget being configured so that through interaction with the Activate Volunteer Responder Network GUI widget rendered on a display screen of the computer aided dispatch system, the dispatcher can cause the computer aided dispatch system to electronically transmit a request for volunteer responder assistance directly or indirectly to a remotely located medical device inclusive responder network server, the request for volunteer responder assistance including an indication of a location of a first emergency incident for which assistance a medical device is desired, wherein the request for volunteer responder assistance is a general request that does not identify any specific medical device to be notified of the emergency incident and the dispatcher cannot select any specific any specific medical devices to be notified of the emergency incident, and wherein the responder network server is configured to, in response to receiving the request for volunteer responder assistance, identify a set of one or more selected medical devices to notify of the emergency incident, and to send a nearby incident notification to each selected medical device in the set that causes the selected medical device to generate a nearby incident alert that requests that a person that perceives the nearby incident alert take the selected medical device to the location of the emergency incident.
2. A computer aided dispatch system as recited in claim 1 wherein the selected medical devices are automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
3. A computer aided dispatch system as recited in claim 1 wherein the Activate Responder Network GUI widget includes an Activate Volunteer Responder Network GUI button, and selection of the Activate Volunteer Responder Network GUI button causes the computer aided dispatch system to transmit the request for volunteer responder assistance.
4. A computer aided dispatch system as recited in claim 3 wherein the Activate Volunteer Responder Network GUI button is persistently displayed on a PSAP computer aided dispatch screen.
5. A computer aided dispatch system as recited in claim 1 wherein the Activate Responder Network GUI widget is accessed via a pull-down menu.
6. A computer aided dispatch system as recited in claim 1 wherein the request for volunteer responder assistance further includes operator notes entered by the dispatcher.
7. A computer aided dispatch system as recited in claim 1 wherein the computer aided dispatch system does not have information indicative of placement of any of the medical devices in the set of medical devices prior to transmission of the request for volunteer responder assistance.
8. A computer aided dispatch system as recited in claim 1 wherein the computer aided dispatch system is configured to transmit the request for volunteer responder assistance to an emergency services interface configured pass the request for volunteer responder assistance to the responder network server.
9. A computer aided dispatch system as recited in claim 1 wherein the computer aided dispatch system is configured to transmit the request for volunteer responder assistance directly to the responder network server.
10. A method of activating a volunteer responder network, the method comprising:
at an emergency call center, by a call center operator, selecting an Activate Responder Network graphical user interface (GUI) widget in a computer aided dispatch system located in the emergency call center;
in response to the operator interaction with the Activate Responder Network GUI widget, electronically transmitting a request for volunteer responder assistance from the computer aided dispatch system directly or indirectly to a responder network server located remotely relative to the emergency call center, the request for volunteer responder assistance including an indication of a location of a potential cardiac arrest incident for which assistance is desired, wherein the request for volunteer responder assistance is a general request that does not identify any specific defibrillator(s) to be notified of the potential cardiac arrest incident and the call center operator does not select or identify any specific defibrillator(s) to be notified of the potential cardiac arrest incident;
by the responder network server, identifying a set of one or more selected defibrillators to notify of the potential cardiac arrest incident, and
from the responder network server, sending a nearby incident alert to each of the selected defibrillators that causes the selected defibrillator to generate a nearby incident alert that requests that a person that perceives the nearby incident alert take the selected defibrillator to the location of the potential cardiac arrest incident.
11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the Activate Responder Network GUI widget includes an Activate AED Network GUI button, and selection of the Activate AED Network GUI button causes the computer aided dispatch system to transmit the request for volunteer responder assistance.
12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the Activate AED Network GUI button is displayed on a display screen of the computer aided dispatch system.
13. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the Activate Responder Network GUI widget is accessed via a pull-down menu.
14. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the computer aided dispatch system does not provide the call center operator with any mechanism for selecting one or more specific volunteer responders or defibrillators to notify of the potential cardiac arrest incident.
15. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the request for volunteer responder assistance further includes operator notes entered by the call center operator.
16. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the computer aided dispatch system transmits the request for volunteer responder assistance to an emergency services interface, the method further comprising, at the emergency services interface, in response to reception of the request for volunteer responder assistance, forwarding the request for volunteer responder assistance to the responder network server.
17. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the computer aided dispatch system transmits the request for volunteer responder assistance directly to the responder network server.
18. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the computer aided dispatch system transmits the request for volunteer responder assistance in parallel with the call center operator coordinating an emergency services response to the potential cardiac arrest incident.