MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Communications Center has been recognized by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch® (IAED) as an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) for emergency medical dispatching.
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 that earn ACE status embody dispatch done right and have demonstrated strong local oversight, rigorous quality processes, and a commitment to data-driven continuous improvement.
The Morris County Communications Center is a regional consolidated Communications Center that provides emergency police, fire, and emergency medical dispatching services, and 9-1-1 answering point services, to the residents and first responders of Morris County. The addition of Medical ACE Accreditation compliments the Morris County Communications Center’s designation as a National CALEA Communications Accredited and New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) Communications Accredited program, an APCO Project 33 Training Program Certified Agency, and its recent award from the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Partner in Education Recognition (PIER) Program for demonstrating exceptional dedication to education and training.
“The earning of the Medical ACE Accreditation status is another achievement by the staff at the Morris County Communications Center that demonstrates our commitment to adhering to worldwide best practices in emergency communications”, said Morris County Emergency Communications Center Director Michael Peoples.
“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 Morris County Communications for their commitment to quality and for meeting that high standard that few achieve. We know their community can count on these first responders to do an outstanding job.”
IAED will present the Morris County Communications Center with an accreditation plaque commemorating their achievement. IAED accreditation is the culmination of a lengthy, arduous process that includes completing 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,” explains Kim Rigden, IAED’s Associate Director of Accreditation. “Morris County Communications Center should be very proud of its ACE achievement and the wonderful service they provide to the community and its emergency responders.”
Accreditation is valid for three years, 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).
Over 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 System”—is recognized as the standard of care and practice for emergency dispatch and is used in 46 countries.
For over 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. We are a member-driven association working to serve the public through the professional development of dispatchers. Our various boards and councils work on behalf of the membership—and in coordination with other public safety organizations—to ensure that the comprehensive emergency dispatching system is as safe, fast, effective, and up-to-date as possible.
