Which of the following is NOT a listed EMS dispatch call disposition?

• A. Assist
• B. Canceled
• C. Patient Dead at Scene
• D. On Scene

Answer: (D)

Dispatch call dispositions are the standardized outcomes used to categorize what happened with a call after it’s dispatched. “Assist” fits as a disposition because it conveys that EMS is providing assistance on the call. “Canceled” is another disposition, indicating the request was canceled before the unit arrived. “Patient Dead at Scene” clearly describes the outcome found on arrival and concludes the call from a medical perspective.

The phrase “On Scene” describes a status about the unit’s location or presence—indicating the crew is on the scene—but it is not an outcome about the call itself. In other words, it tells you where the unit is, not what happened to the patient or whether the call was completed, canceled, or resulted in a patient outcome. That’s why it isn’t listed as a dispatch call disposition.