Carilion Clinic Life-Guard Connects with Alleghany 911 Centers

Jeff Echternach, PR Coordinator for our Communications Center, was on the road yesterday to visit with our neighboring emergency dispatchers in Alleghany County. We have worked very closely with the Alleghany EMS community over the years, and were excited to deliver our rapid access hotlines (aka "Life-Guard bat phones") to two of their 911 Centers. These direct ringdown phones allow for the 911 dispatchers to contact our Carilion Clinic Life-Guard dispatchers even more seamlessly. By simply picking up the handset, the phone is pre-programmed to automatically put the caller in touch with one of our Carilion Clinic Communication Specialists.
In conjunction with the Carilion Clinic Heart Alert program, Jeff has been out working hard providing excellent educational seminars for the E911 dispatchers on the basics of activating a Carilion Clinic Life-Guard helicopter for their area emergencies. "Making the call for a helicopter is not something a 911 dispatcher does every day", says Robin Hall, Alleghany County E911 Supervisor. "If you're not prepared for the phone call, it can make things very difficult".
Our Dispatcher training prepares dispatchers for all types of medevac response needs: from acute heart attacks, to motor vehicle accidents, to acute strokes....any call where time can make a critical difference in a patient's outcome.
Jeff was able to visit with the Alleghany dispatchers and learn more about their operations as well. While showing some of the staff the new phone, Police Chief Barry G. Balser commented, "I'm glad that Clifton Forge is able to partake in this technology...but when can we upgrade to the "Bat-Light" that shines your logo in the sky??" (Don't laugh, Chief Balser..we kind of like that idea!)
We value the excellent working relationships we have with all of our partnering dispatchers. If your local Communications Center is interested in scheduling training with our crew or would like to inquire about installing a hotline phone, please contact our Business Development Office at (540) 981-8303.