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The National Ambulance Service (NAS), Greater Accra Region, has organized a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) session for personnel of the Regional Dispatch Centre as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen emergency response, enhance professionalism and promote staff wellbeing.
Held on Wednesday, 27 August 2026, at the Regional Dispatch Centre, the training brought together dispatch personnel and facilitators, including the Greater Accra Regional Medical Coordinator, Dr. Felicia Birch Freeman; Regional Administrative Manager, DCAEMT Daniel Asare; Regional Quality Assurance and Clinical Auditor, DCAEMT Sylvanus Agbekor; Regional Accountant, DCAEMT Iddrisu Yakubu; and Regional Public Relations Officer, AEMT Fati Larley.
The session focused on key areas critical to emergency medical dispatch operations, including stress and stress management for emergency medical dispatchers, professionalism in prehospital emergency care, clinical audit and quality assurance, dispatch excellence, and building public trust through effective communication.
Opening the programme, DCAEMT Daniel Asare underscored the importance of continuous professional development in equipping dispatchers with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to perform effectively in high-pressure environments. He noted that well-trained dispatchers play a pivotal role in ensuring quality emergency care from the very first point of contact.
Leading the session on stress management, Dr. Felicia Birch Freeman highlighted the unique pressures associated with emergency dispatch work and the need for personnel to prioritize their mental and emotional wellbeing. She explained how stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline can support alertness and performance, but cautioned that prolonged stress can adversely affect health and job performance if not properly managed.
She encouraged participants to recognize early warning signs of stress, adopt healthy coping mechanisms and seek support when needed. Dr. Freeman also demonstrated how dispatchers can provide life-saving instructions to callers during cardiac arrest emergencies, emphasizing the crucial role dispatch personnel play before ambulance crews arrive on scene.
Participants were reminded that dispatchers often serve as the first point of contact during emergencies and that their ability to communicate calmly, gather accurate information, provide clear instructions and reassure callers can significantly impact patient outcomes.
The CPD programme forms part of the Greater Accra Regional Dispatch Centre’s commitment to continuous learning, professional excellence and quality service delivery. Through such initiatives, the National Ambulance Service continues to strengthen its capacity to provide timely, compassionate and effective emergency care to the people of Ghana.
