Whether you are looking at upgrading your dispatch consoles, remodeling your existing space, or building a new 911 Comm Center, it is a huge undertaking, and can be a lengthy process with lots of pressure to do it right!  What some folks don’t know is who can help you achieve this – a great design team. 

While driving through the frigid, negative degree temperatures in Canada two weeks ago (and yes, I’m talking Fahrenheit!), the first thought that came to mind is, “How in the WORLD do these dispatchers regulate the temperatures in their centers with these out-of-this-world temperatures?” Then,
I thought of all of the southern parts of the US that get into triple digit heat during the summer months, wondered how they prevent having their center too cold.

With winter winding down, we tend to go through our closets and get rid of the clutter. What better place to start dusting than your own 911 backup center. You know, that room that hardly ever gets some love!

As much as technology has advanced, there is still a small chance of failure and the need to work out of your backup site. Alternatively, there could be inclement weather that might force you to go to a different location. Many PSAPs are revamping their backup center to mirror their primary location in the event of an emergency. Some are also utilizing the space as a training facility. Given the increased use, more Comm Centers are asking about solutions for their backup site. Here are a few recommendations to revamp your backup site and have it prepped for any emergency:

If you are in the beginning of shopping for new dispatch console furniture in your 911 center a great first question is, how much do they cost?  After all, you will need to plan a budget about a year in advance and get the most accurate pricing. If you don't budget enough, you may not be able to get all of the features and options you want. If you ask for too much you may not get the project approved.   

The Latest Trends & Buying Information

Preparing to buy dispatch console furniture can be an extremely daunting project. These resources can help  you with current industry trends and will help you with what you need to know before you buy.

Important news! Have you heard?

Anthro is discontinuing the manufacture
and sale of its imaging and radiology products. After December 31st Ergotron Anthro will no longer accept orders for Carl's Tables and Steve's Station.

Here is the letter that you may have received. To view it in it's entirety, click here. 

You just received approval to purchase new monitors for your reading room. This is great news! Just when you think you’ve got the latest and greatest in technology, something even sharper, more innovative is released; it becomes increasingly more important to evaluate your equipment to ensure your older monitors aren’t negatively affecting patient outcomes or hindering doctors’ ability to formulate proper diagnoses.

Will you be looking at imaging desks at RSNA? If the answer to that question is yes, I recommend looking at all the major manufacturers, asking some appropriate questions and looking for some key differentiating features.

People often come to us when they aren’t sure how long it will take to get new dispatch furniture. Having a timeline and knowing approximate dates can help make the process smooth from beginning to end. Having a timeline can also help to eliminate the guessing game of when to start looking for furniture and/or when to start asking your county for money or possibly preparing your agency’s budget for the next fiscal year.

Another great way a timeline can eliminate the stresses of getting new dispatch furniture is to help you work backwards. Let’s say your project HAS to be completed by a certain date.  With a timeline in place, you can let your purchasing department know that if they drag their feet on things like a PO, then it's possible the whole project could be delayed. Or maybe you are planning to go “live” in your new building on a specific date, this would mean that you'd need to have a signed PO by a minimum 10 weeks prior to "go live" date.

Whether this is your first project or your fortieth, the process of selecting a radiology imaging desk furniture manufacturer may seem overwhelming and you probably find yourself wondering where to even begin. With so many manufacturers out there – some you may have never heard of before – how do you figure out which is the perfect, durable, quality, cost-efficient sit to stand imaging desk that is going to knock it out of the park and earn you that well-deserved promotion, while having all of the doctors patting your back?