Joint program could improve tri-county EMS response times

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – A new agreement is in the works between Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester Counties that could better help when you experience an emergency.

Charleston County’s finance committee is preparing to vote on whether to approve a new program that would reduce response times when you call EMS.

Aaron Maciariello, Charleston County Project Officer, said they are working with Berkeley and Dorchester Counties and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) on funding to implement new CAD technology.

The CAD-to-CAD system costs $1,615,769. 20% of that needs to be paid by the three counties. The U.S. Department of Transportation would pay the difference.

Charleston County’s share would be $193,892.

“Currently there are areas in the community that are in the City of Charleston or North Charleston jurisdiction for police and fire, but are in Berkeley and Dorchester County for EMS,” said Maciariello.

Right now, a dispatcher has to actually call the other county to send EMS. This new system computerizes more of the process.

“With this technology in place once we process that call, the information is immediately transferred to their computer-aided dispatch so they can dispatch their responders,” he said.

The system may even be able to pinpoint where other EMS units are located in the other counties. So, units could be automatically dispatched.

“You know, the moments after a crash are critical and we want ultimately to get the responders who are the appropriate responders to the location to begin post-crash care. And we are seeking an 80% reduction overall in the time that it would take to notify the appropriate responders, so that’s the goal here,” Maciariello said.

Berkeley County officials tell me they are working on the agreement as well. Dorchester County officials say they have submitted a letter of agreement on the integration.

If this passes in Thursday’s finance committee, the full Charleston County Council will vote on it Tuesday.