The Massachusetts Emergency Medical Services Radio Communications Plan

1. The Massachusetts Emergency Medical Services Radio Communications Plan Overview Presentation Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality Office of Emergency Medical Services

2. Purpose • Establish minimum standards for EMS communications • Identify shared technology of existing systems assuring compatibility of users in and out of state • Technical specifications of equipment and systems to minimize sources of interference • Provide a reference for agencies and manufacturers concerning EMS radio communications • Regional communication plans will supplement the state plan by providing greater specificity

3. EMS ServicesRequirements • Key Requirements • What communications are required for EMS services? • Dispatch Communication Capability via a dispatch center How do EMS services contact hospitals for medical control? • Must use CMED • Must be recorded • What type of equipment do the EMS Services? • What rules must they follow? • EMS service providers must comply with all state and federal regulations as well as applicable regional guidelines

4. Narrow Banding • The EMS Emergency Care Advisory Board (EMCAB) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) have created a plan to transition the EMS communications infrastructure from wide band to narrow band. • All EMS services will be responsible to equip their vehicles with the appropriate mobile radios. These radios can be used to dispatch the ambulance to the scene of a medical request and must enable communication with the appropriate CMED Center. • See page 31 for specific technical details of the radios

5. Partners in EMS Communications • Central Medical Emergency Direction (CMED) Center • EMS Services • Hospital • Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) • MA Department of Public Health and its EPB (MA DPH) • Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) • Regional Medical Coordination Center (RMCC)

6. EMS Communications Plan Infrastructure • Universal Emergency Number 9-1-1 • CMED • CMED Database Management System • U.H.F. Mobile Radio Systems • Homeland and Health Alert Network (HHAN) • Regional Mass Casualty Support Unit (RMCSU) • Satellite Phones • Ambulance Task Force Radio Infrastructure / MEMA / FAMTRAC

7. Central Medical Emergency Direction (CMED) Center • What is CMED? • Organization that provides communications that connect hospitals and EMS providers • What does CMED Provide? • Communication during emergencies • Manage medical radio channel usage • EMS communications within a region • Connect field personnel to EDs and Medical Direction

8. Communications Flow for a Typical 911 Response

9. EMS Radio Communications Protocols • What is the purpose of EMS radio communications protocols? • What are some examples of EMS communications protocols? • Call Sign Identification • Typical 9-1-1 Call Response • MCI Communications • Ambulance Task Force Activation • Regional Mass Casualty Support Unit (RMCSU)

10. Functions of CMED • Ambulance-to-hospital communication • Manage Medical radio channel use within regions • Coordinate medical channels with neighboring CMED Centers • Monitor and maintain system ensuring proper coverage and quality transmissions

11. Functions of CMED • Provide control of EMS communication functions during mass casualty incidents or disaster responses • Coordinate patient distribution during a Mass Casualty Incident • Coordinate EMS with other public safety agencies • Provide general assistance as requested by any EMS agency • Support out-of-region ambulances and other EMS units • Dispatch Regional Mass Casualty Support Units (RMCSU) Trailers and other regional resources • EMS resource status and infrastructure

12. Other Resources Available • What other resources are available regarding the EMS Communications Plan? • MDPH Office of Emergency Medical Services • MDPH Emergency Preparedness Bureau • Regional EMS Councils

13. Northeast CMED Region III • Located at Lawrence General Hospital • 9 UHF, 4 VHF, and 1 receiver sites + phone patch capability • Covers 15 Hospitals • Dispatches 4 non-transport ALS units • Provides Security dispatch for Lawrence General. (Many CMED’s have additional roles such as this)

14. Proper CMED Hailing tips • The proper title is Northeast CMED • Always hail on MED 4 using service name, vehicle number, and location. i.e. “Northeast CMED, Northeast CMED, Cataldo P-6 calling from Malden.” • If no response, wait 1 minute and try again

15. Proper CMED Hailing tips (cont.) • When CMED answers, state the destination hospital, priority, and ALS or BLS level • When assigned a channel, providers should confirm, then switch and confirm that they are on the assigned channel. • If Medical Control is needed, it should be requested prior to the patch being established.

16. CMED FAQ’s • What are the reasons to use the CMED System? • Why do they always ask “unit calling” • Why do they say there are multiple units calling and I don’t hear anybody else? • If the “North Shore” and Merrimack Valley” are in the same office, why do we have different channels for them? • When calling for a phone patch, they always ask if my radio is working. Why?

17. Coming Soon • Region III EMS Mutual Aid Channel • Narrow banding • New PL Change

18. Questions?