EMS
Paramedics with Bangs Ambulance in New York experienced cellular service dead zones throughout the rural Finger Lakes region. With FirstNet, the agency is taking advantage of capabilities like high-power user equipment, ensuring personnel have more reliable connectivity to send vital information to local hospitals.
Kevin Nida will present How FirstNet Can Improve Patient Outcome at the Doctor's Medical Center's Advances in Stroke Care 2021: The Cutting Edge.
The Central Massachusetts EMS Corp. (CMEMSC) provides support to state and local jurisdictions, EMS system providers, and hospitals through dispatch services, education, and technical assistance. With FirstNet, CMEMSC is enhancing their ability to communicate and track assets, such as sprayers used to disinfect ambulances and hospital facilities to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
Paul Patrick, FirstNet Authority Board Member and Division Director for Family Health and Preparedness at the Utah Department of Health, reflects on his career and how FirstNet has advanced capabilities for EMS, including telehealth. He also explains how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport Model is changing the field of emergency medicine.
The Central Virginia Healthcare Coalition (CVHC) is one of six coalitions in the Commonwealth of Virginia and helps its membership plan, train, and respond to incidents and events in the region. FirstNet is supporting communications for CVHC during emergencies, in its response to COVID-19, and in preparation for large events and protests.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers respond to life-threatening emergencies, serve as part of the community healthcare team, and help safeguard communities nationwide. The National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) is a nationwide organization that develops EMS policy, acts as a voice for the EMS community, and provides information and research on EMS-related issues. As a member of the FirstNet Authority’s Public Safety Advisory Committee, NASEMSO provides feedback on issues that are important to state EMS officials.
Leonard S. Weiss, MD, FACEP, FAEMS talks about the importance of having public safety give guidance to the FirstNet Authority. Dr. Weiss is the liaison for NAEMSP on the FirstNet Authority's Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC). Learn more at FirstNet.gov/PSAC and at FirstNet.gov/EMS.
The National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) represents over 1,500 paramedics, physicians, nurses, administrators, educators, and researchers. NAEMSP provides educational resources and evidence-based guidance to its members and partners with organizations and federal agencies as an advocate for EMS-related decisions. As a member of the FirstNet Authority’s Public Safety Advisory Committee, NAEMSP provides input on issues that are essential EMS practitioners.
The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) is a national association representing all EMS practitioners, including paramedics, EMTs, and other emergency response personnel. As a member of the FirstNet Authority’s Public Safety Advisory Committee, NAEMT provides input on issues that are essential to emergency medical technicians.
When emergencies happen, first responders need to be able to quickly send and receive vital information. For EMS responders, the ability to share data with the hospital helps save time – and potentially lives. Two new FirstNet cell sites in southern Pennsylvania are bringing enhanced coverage and connectivity to public safety, allowing them to send data reliably and securely.
America’s first responders are at the heart of the FirstNet Authority’s mission. Many FirstNet Authority staff are either current or former public safety officials. Collectively, they have deep experience in all public safety disciplines. We celebrate all first responders on Honoring the Nation's First Responders Day, and we appreciate their service every day of the year.
The FirstNet network core provides first responders with a foundation for advancing their use of mobile broadband with mission critical features they never had before. The FirstNet core network is based on 4G LTE technology. The next generation of cellular technology, 5G, is on the horizon and in the process of being implemented around the world by more than 200 cellular operators. In addition to greater device capacity, the 5G architecture breaks the core into many smaller pieces and locates them all over the network. This creates increased resiliency, more redundancy, improved security and puts users physically closer to where the networks higher order computing takes place.
In Chesapeake, Virginia, the local fire department is exploring ways to manage response for non-emergent care. The Chesapeake Fire Department launched a Mobile Integrated Healthcare program to provide residents with effective access to healthcare. With FirstNet, they are able to access real-time data in the field and coordinate with high-risk patients throughout the community.
Sacred Cross EMS provides EMS and emergency and non-emergency ambulance transport services across North and West Texas. Many of the areas that the company services are rural, and cellular coverage is traditionally sparse. With the help of FirstNet, Sacred Cross is able to communicate among crews, with hospitals, and with dispatch provide better patient care in these remote areas during everyday incidents and planned events.
As the nation continues to face the effects of COVID-19, call centers have had adjust their operations in order to maintain communications for 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 calls, while keeping their employees safe. Thanks to FirstNet, the Office of Unified Communications has been able to continue operating safely and securely.
The FirstNet Authority is excited to participate in the National Association of Emergency Medical Technician’s World Trauma Symposium virtual conference. FirstNet Authority staff will host a virtual booth to share information and answer questions about how FirstNet supports emergency medical services.