It looks as if an audit of the Houston Emergency Center is complete:
Houston’s 911 system needs some major work according to an independent audit of the emergency center.
The City Controller’s office hired a private company to look at the efficiency and effectiveness of the Houston Emergency Center.
The report, released Tuesday morning, says the organizational structure is ineffective, employee morale is low, call handling needs improvement and the 911 building isn’t as secure as it should be.
The review also recommends ways to save more than $6 million.
It’ll be interesting to see the full report, including the suggestions for improving the center.
RELATED: Fixing HEC (bH)
UPDATE: Matt Stiles has a story up on Chron.com:
Houston Emergency Center review by City Controller Annise Parker found problems most evident in the “mission-critical” lack of available police dispatchers.
“The shortage of available staff, exacerbated by resulting high levels of enforced overtime and associated absenteeism, and a frequently confrontational work environment, may place at risk the delivery quality and reliability of critical emergency response services,” the controller reported.
Parker’s report cites “pervasively” low morale among the center’s employees, who handle 911 calls, process them for the police and fire departments and dispatch accordingly.
The center also has been plagued by equipment and software problems. Another recent audit found most of those issues had been resolved.
Parker’s audit found that the center, opened in 2003 to improve emergency service by bringing fire and police dispatchers and 911 call takers under one roof, could save $6.7 million with changes recommended by the auditors.
I’ll bet HEC’s “productivity policy” doesn’t help with employee morale.
UPDATE 2: Sedosi wants to know when the audit will be posted on the City Controller’s website, and he makes a prediction.
UPDATE 3: Here’s Controller Annise Parker’s press release and summary.
