Hartford Healthcare Fetes West Hartford Dispatcher

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A West Hartford emergency dispatcher was recently honored by Hartford Healthcare for her life-saving work on the phone lines.

According to Hartford Healthcare Emergency Medical Services Friday, West Hartford Police Department Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) Katie Baker was awarded the "Medical Director's Award for Clinical Excellence."

Hartford Healthcare administrator Kevin Ferrarotti said via social media that Baker was honored "for her exceptional performance handling an evolving cardiac arrest case earlier this year."

He said HHC System Medical Director Dr. Charles Johndro recently visited Baker in West Hartford to give her the honor.

Ferrarotti said "Baker’s expert use of the scienc- based medical dispatch system including pre-arrival instructions was a key to the delivery of essential pre-hospital care early in the event and exemplifies our belief that EMD’s are the first link in the chain of survival. "

"Thank you Katie for your comittment to being the voice in the void for so many," Ferrarotti said.

Her award drew kudos from local responders.

"Thank you Katie for your excellent work," wrote West Hartford Firefighters Local 1241 Friday morning.

For the Hartford Healthcare Emergency Medical Services Facebook page, click on this link.