Emergency response professionals need technology overhaul

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers may be better off using their cellular phones to communicate than the systems that EMS agencies provide them, according to a February report to Congress.

The report, completed by the Joint Advisory Committed on Communications of Emergency Medical Public Health Care Facilities (JAC), argued that broadband technology was necessary for emergency-response professionals and other healthcare providers.

Curt Bashford, vice president of an EMS communications provider expanded:

"The state of communications in EMS and through hospitals is behind the times, both in technologies in use and in leveraging new things coming out. The things we can be doing now require new technologies and, basically, more bandwidth. We need these larger pipes, if you will, from the ambulance back to the hospital."

The report's primary recommendation was to deploy interoperable broadband networks to serve as a nationwide backbone for all healthcare and emergency response professionals. This network would be built on standard Internet Protocols. Thus far attempts to build such a network have all failed due to lack of resources. In the interim, the JAC suggests that cellular broadband be invested in due to its ability to be immediately utilized.

Providing access for everyone – not just emergency responders and the healthcare community – is the final step in the JAC’s plan. With increased access to broadband at home, remote consultations and monitoring would allow healthcare providers the ability to give and receive critical information quickly.

The other recommendations of the report deal with better coordination between emergency response agencies.

Bashford understands current limitations:

"Some of these technologies are going to be what allows EMS to go to the next level. Certainly it's going to take money, which we didn't get into. What we've provided is a blueprint: Here's what we're missing, so let's get on the stick, and here are the plans to get to the next step tomorrow."

Broadband for EMS (EMSResponder.com)

Joint Advisory Committee on Communications Capabilities of Emergency Medical and Public Health Care Facilities (Report)

Telemedicine provides cheaper, faster and more personalized pediatric care (Speedmatters)