A mobile communication device (100) contains a local wireless controller (114) for operating with a remote audio processor (124). The remote audio processor is used for listening to and speaking with remote parties via the mobile communication device, and operates in a mode having a relatively long latency in communicating with the mobile communication device. Upon receiving a dispatch call (306), a baseband processor (108) of the mobile communication device notifies an application processor (110) with a high priority dispatch notification (122). The high priority dispatch notification causes an active link to be established between the mobile communication device and remote audio processor sooner than if were to occur with ordinary call processing.