Planning Emergency Medical Communications
Volume 1, “State Level Planning Guide” (June 2005)
Volume 2, “Local/Regional Level Planning Guide” (October 2005)
Developed by NASEMSO and supported through a contract with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Planning Emergency Medical Communications is presented in two volumes. Volume 1, “State Level Planning Guide,” contains general background information and information regarding the two-tiered approach to EMS communications planning. The first-tier plan focuses on factors necessary to ensure proper compatibility, interface and coordination of local EMS communications within a statewide system. Volume Two, “Local/Regional Level Planning Guide,” provides more specific information and directions for use by local planners in preparing detailed second-tier local emergency medical telecommunications plans.
It is impossible for a document such as this to convey all of the information needed regarding emergency medical communications or to keep up with continuous change in communications technology and regulations. Changes to the Federal Communications Commission’s Rules directly influence the system configurations and use of the radio frequency spectrum. The types of equipment offered by manufacturers constantly change, and there also are frequent changes in funding and federal, state and local policies. These all influence the EMS communications-system-design philosophy. EMS communications, as with most modern communications, are being constantly developed and improved.
“The Status of State EMS Office Involvement in EMS Communications” (December 2008) (Document will be available soon)
NASEMSO conducted a nationwide survey of state EMS directors to ascertain the status of EMS communications capabilities, oversight and development. Communication technologies are central to the efficient coordination and delivery of emergency medical services in everyday operation and in mass casualty and domestic preparedness endeavors. We believe an understanding of the current status of these systems is essential to effective planning and better understanding of both the challenges and opportunities facing EMS. This monograph represents extensive work over the past year in instrument design, information gathering and data analysis. We are pleased that 50 of the eligible 56 jurisdictions participated in this project. This translates to an overall response rate of 89%. Because of this high response rate, our confidence in the findings is also high. We hope you will find the monograph useful in furthering the ongoing development of emergency medical services systems locally and nationally.