The Harris County Emergency Corps (HCEC) Communications Center serves Fire and EMS agencies throughout Southeast Texas.
The HCEC Communications Center follows the guidelines from the National Academy for Quality Assurance, and has a dedicated staff to ensure we meet or exceed the National Academy standards. All Communications personnel are certified through the National Academy of Emergency Dispatch in both Emergency Medical and Emergency Fire Dispatch.
HCEC’s Communication Center recently achieved Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) with the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch® (IAED™). There are only 130 medical ACE in the United States and only nine in Texas. This distinction places the center among the very highest-performing emergency dispatch agencies worldwide.
Through advanced technology and innovative practices, the HCEC Communications Center has been recognized for making great strides toward regional interoperability, helping to close the communications gap between mutual aid departments and surrounding communication centers.
Our clients include:
- Harris County Emergency Corps
- Aldine Fire Department
- Eastex Fire Department
- Little York Fire Department
- Huffman Fire Department
- Harris County ESD #4
- Westfield Fire Department
- Atascocita Volunteer Fire Department
- Northwest Fire Department
- Northwest Community Health
The HCEC Communications Center offers one of the most competitive service fee schedules in the region. There are no initial set-up costs and prices are based on prior year’s call volume.
HCEC serves as a secondary public safety responder site in Harris County. Greater Harris County 911 is the administrator of 911 providers for Harris County, supplying the infrastructure for us to receive 911 calls, as well as training on how to utilize their systems.
ACE Accreditation for Communications
HCEC’s Communication Center achieved the Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) with the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch® (IAED™). There are only 130 medical ACE in the United States and only nine in Texas. This distinction places the center among the very highest-performing emergency dispatch agencies worldwide.
“Out of 100 calls reviewed, we have to have a 93% compliance rate or better, and we have to meet that every week,” said Riva Saenz, Communication Supervisor. “Being in compliance means that we follow the script, and it can sometimes be challenging with a difficult caller.”
“We’ve always been a center of excellence, now we have a validation of distinguishment of not just Texas, but around the world with ACE Accreditation,” said Jimmy Silva, Communications Coordinator. “We are all thankful that HCEC makes quality a priority to improve patient care.”
“Our community can have peace of mind that they will receive a higher level of care with good customer service and the right response to each call,” said Estella Adam, Dispatcher.
To apply, an agency submits the appropriate ACE Application form along with a detailed, self-study document based on the Academy’s Twenty Points. The Academy’s Accreditation Board will review the application and document, then arrange an onsite evaluation visit by an Academy representative.
ACE inspires agencies to perform superior, up-to-date public care and to employ efficient use of resources when handling all emergency call situations. In order to achieve accreditation, agencies must meet or exceed standards required in the accreditation, which requires participation from everyone in the department. Because ACE agencies abide by these standards and have fulfilled these requirements, callers can have peace of mind knowing their needs will always be appropriately addressed and that they will receive the help they need. HCEC is accredited through 2022.