The Future of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Communications

Kevin McGinnis, MPS, EMT-P

Communications Technology AdvisorNational Association of State EMS Officials

National Association of EMS PhysiciansNational Association of EMTs

National Association of EMS Educators

Vice-ChairPublic Safety Spectrum Trust

EMS Communications NowEMS Communications NowNarrowband Land Mobile Mission Critical VoiceNarrowband Land Mobile Mission Critical VoiceAnd Limited Telemetry And Limited Telemetry – VHF/UHF/700 MHz/800 MHzVHF/UHF/700 MHz/800 MHz

Commercial Voice and Limited Telemetry ServicesCommercial Voice and Limited Telemetry Services– Telephone and Cell ServicesTelephone and Cell Services

BroadbandBroadband– 3G Commercial Wireless Data/Municipal WiFi & MESH 3G Commercial Wireless Data/Municipal WiFi & MESH

Systems (Unlicensed 2.4 GHz)Systems (Unlicensed 2.4 GHz)Lack Mission Critical ReliabilityLack Mission Critical ReliabilityLack Public Safety PriorityLack Public Safety PriorityLack Patient SecurityLack Patient SecurityLack Wide Area Coverage in Rural AreasLack Wide Area Coverage in Rural Areas

EMS Needs Improved Communications Technology

What We LackWhat We LackSituational Awareness (SA)Situational Awareness (SA)– EventsEvents– ResourcesResources

Common Operating Picture (COP)Common Operating Picture (COP)– First Responders/Ambulance RespondersFirst Responders/Ambulance Responders– Rescue/Extrication RespondersRescue/Extrication Responders– Air-Medical RespondersAir-Medical Responders– Hospital/Specialty Center StaffHospital/Specialty Center Staff

Rural & Community Paramedicine CommunicationsRural & Community Paramedicine Communications

What We Need for SA & COPWhat We Need for SA & COPMore Than Voice Communications More Than Voice Communications Network of Data BasesNetwork of Data Bases– Resource StatusResource Status– Events StatusEvents Status– Adequate Bandwidth to Push/Pull/Park Data:Adequate Bandwidth to Push/Pull/Park Data:

VoiceVoiceOther (Complex Biotelemetry, Video, Images)Other (Complex Biotelemetry, Video, Images)

GIS-Based User InterfacesGIS-Based User Interfaces– PDA, MDU, DesktopPDA, MDU, Desktop– Real-Time Resource/Event Updating Real-Time Resource/Event Updating

MERCY HOSP.

CITY TRAUMA CTR.

LIFE FLIGHT

++/Available

UNITED AMB.

CITY FIRE/RESCUEMVC

CARDIACDIABETIC

EMSREMS

RIDGEWAY HOSP.

JONES MEM. HOSP. (DIVERT)

RIDGEWAY EMSVERNON FD VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE

NEW SHARON FD 1ST RESPONDERS

RIDGEWAY FD EXTRICATION/HAZ MAT

MVC

LEREMS

FREMS

DOTREMS

Ridgeway EMS 1

EMS 1

Inventory/

Status:

+ / +

EMS 1 1800-0600

•K. McGinnis P11024

•G. Smith E86054

EMS 2 Out of Svc.

Call: 1800-1800

•E18924/E93204

ER: Smith

No surgeon

Unscheduled

Diagram content courtesy of the Department of Defense, TelemedicDiagram content courtesy of the Department of Defense, Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Centerine & Advanced Technology Research Center

Wireless Patient MonitoringWireless Patient Monitoring

Electronic Health RecordElectronic Health Record

Speech RecognitionSpeech RecognitionInputInput

Portable PSCD Type Platform

MERCY HOSP.

CITY TRAUMA CTR.

LIFE FLIGHT

To MVC

UNITED AMB.

UNITED CCT

United Wheelchair

MVC

CARDIAC

EMSREMS

DOTREMS

RIDGEWAY HOSP.

Specialist Call List

Service Call List

JONES MEM. HOSP. (DIVERT)

RIDGEWAY EMSVERNON FD VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE

MVA

Ridgeway Hospital

MVC

Pt.1

Pt.2

Tib/Fib Fx x1/x1

AO x 4

140/90;88;18;CR+

2ary -; GCS-,TS-

- SOAP Notes

- 3/4 Lead EKG

- 12 Lead EKG

- VS Monitor

EMS Communications - FutureEMS Communications - FutureNarrowband Land Mobile Mission Critical VoiceNarrowband Land Mobile Mission Critical Voice– VHF/UHF/700 MHz/800 MHzVHF/UHF/700 MHz/800 MHz

Commercial Voice ServicesCommercial Voice Services– Telephone and Cell ServicesTelephone and Cell Services

BroadbandBroadband– Nationwide 4G Shared Public Safety/Commercial Wireless Nationwide 4G Shared Public Safety/Commercial Wireless

Data Network and Links to Fiber NetworksData Network and Links to Fiber NetworksMission Critical Redundancy & ReliabilityMission Critical Redundancy & ReliabilityPublic Safety PriorityPublic Safety PriorityPatient SecurityPatient SecurityWide Area Coverage in Rural Areas via Roaming, Satellite and Wide Area Coverage in Rural Areas via Roaming, Satellite and Wireless/Fiber LinksWireless/Fiber Links