Owensboro-Daviess County 911 Dispatch Center Director Paul Nave said his department is evaluating any potential impacts as AMR considers relocating its ambulance dispatch operations from Evansville to St. Louis. The proposed move would mark the second relocation since AMR began servicing the area in 2019.
“(The County and the City) contract with them, and they have to have a dispatch center for the contract,” Nave said. “But it doesn’t stipulate where.”
Currently, Owensboro-Daviess 911 receives the emergency call, geo-verifies the location, and transfers the call and data directly to AMR’s dispatch system through a computer-aided dispatch (CAD-to-CAD) connection.
“As soon as we transfer the call to them, they get all of our stuff — the address, the phone number, enrollment — and they can immediately start EMD (emergency medical dispatch),” Nave said. “Virtually, within 40 seconds, their ambulance is rolling. That’s phenomenal.”
Because of this seamless technology integration, Nave said callers typically don’t even realize a separate dispatch agency is handling their emergency after the transfer.
“Before the voice even goes over, the ambulance is already rolling,” he said. “I think it’s the most efficient system you’ll find around here for getting medical.”
AMR emphasized that no move has been finalized and sent the OT the following statement via email:
“We are currently exploring the possibility of relocating Owensboro dispatch from Evansville to our regional communication center, which is ACE accredited and supports various operations. Although we are still in the exploratory phase and have not planned any move yet, we want to clarify that Owensboro dispatch will only be moved if we cease operations in Evansville. We are evaluating our options should such a need arise.”
Nave said he won’t be able to determine the potential impact until further meetings are held with AMR to work through logistics.
“My vision is that we don’t lose anything we have at this point,” he said.
In addition to discussing AMR’s potential move, Nave highlighted ongoing technological advancements within Owensboro-Daviess 911, including the transition to a next-generation, IP-based system known as NG911.
“The current system is based on technology from 1968,” he said. “This new system enhances what we can get, especially location-based routing.”
Under the current system, Nave said cell calls near county or state lines may route to the wrong 911 center depending on tower location. NG911 aims to fix that by using more precise routing based on geofencing polygons rather than just tower proximity.
“This will help prevent delays and save lives,” Nave said.
Looking ahead, Nave said the department hopes to partner with local schools to 3D-image school buildings. This would allow dispatchers to pinpoint an emergency down to the specific room.
“If that medical is in Room 302, that’s where it will hit,” he said. “We’ll see a 3D image of the building on our CAD and mapping systems, and responders will be routed directly to that room.”
The school project is still in the early discussion phase, with no contracts or formal agreements in place. Nave said the initiative could take years and would depend on funding availability and interest from the districts.
“But once we get that in place, it’s going to make a huge difference,” he said.
