Stifling Innovation: The Story of Cards 911 and Priority Dispatch
In the world of emergency medical services, every second counts. Bob Austin, a veteran of major metropolitan fire and EMS departments, understood this well. His vision was simple yet transformative: create an open-source medical dispatch system that would not only be free but would also allow for the continuous improvement of life-saving practices. A key part of this system was a project called Cards 911, essentially a streamlined script for emergency dispatchers. By using hyperlinks, this document helped dispatchers quickly gather crucial information and provide immediate assistance to callers. It was a remarkable tool, offered freely to the community, created with the sole purpose of helping save lives. So who could possibly object to such a selfless endeavor? Enter Priority Dispatch Corporation, a company that holds numerous patents related to emergency dispatch systems. Their lawyers sent a chilling cease-and-desist letter, claiming Cards 911 infringed on their intellectual propert...