Emergency Room Monitoring

[RadioGuy3007]

Hey All,
Just curious what others use in Hospital Emergency rooms to monitor ambulance communications and communicate with Ambulance Services. We have a APX consolette tied into a desk set remote. Since our state is upgrading to a P2 800mhz system we want to be able to have something that can handle more than 4 channels on the desk set. Would something like the Zetron Command IQ work with an APX consolette where we could do custom graphics for the staff. If the zetron unit won't work is there something similar. We have looked into the Motorola MDC5000 but we aren't sure about it.

 

[chief21]

Just curious what others use in Hospital Emergency rooms to monitor ambulance communications and communicate with Ambulance Services.

I expect that ambulance-to-hospital communications can range from A-Z, depending on location. In the US, many states have minimum communication standards for hospitals... usually based on certain VHF frequencies (HEAR) and/or the dedicated UHF MED channels.
In addition, many hospitals also have equipment that ties them into their local/regional/statewide emergency radio systems. Some systems can be very basic and some can be incredibly complex. Most of the larger P25 systems I'm aware of usually provide one or more discrete talkgroups for ambulance-to-hospital and hospital-to-hospital communication.

 

[RadioGuy3007]

Thanks for the reply. I do understand that. Our new state system will not have Encrypted ems to hospital coms. Currently they use a VHF Frequency. I maintain the hospitals apx consolette I am looking for options for Desk Sets. We currently use a Gai-Tronics desk set. We are looking at the MDC5000 but would prefer something like the zetron unit I mentioned above to make things easier for staff.

 

[K4LAU]

I work as a communications tech in a regional trauma center. We have used several systems over the years. Our current system is CAREpoint by General Devices. It is a computer control system that will handle a large number of phone lines and radio channels. It is expensive but it works well for us. A big plus for us is that it has built in recording and some information management uses. It will connect to almost any radio system. The user support is outstanding if you pay for the gold plan.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Last system I installed at the hospital had the MCD5000 hooked to an APX consolette. The MCD allowed us to put in multiple remotes at different nurses stations. Just needed the ethernet cable to each location from the switch. Im not sure how the Zetron would change channels and such on the APX radio. With the MCD you can change zones, channels and other radio functions like the radio is in front of you.

 

[chief21]

I am looking for options for Desk Sets.

While I applaud your initiative, my advice would be to reach out to the vendor or system administrators of the new radio system to determine what the technical requirements might be to interface with the new system. There might even be a requirement to purchase specific equipment in order to connect to the new system.

 

[ramal121]

How many extra channels do you need? Can't imagine an E.D. crew being overwhelmed with a ton of channels to get lost in. If you are now running a Gaitronics remote then the consolette will be set up for TRC. The radio will go up to 16 channels using TRC. Gaitronics has an upgraded remote that will utilize all 16 and give a programmed channel alias so no cheat sheet is required.

 

[RadioGuy3007]

While I applaud your initiative, my advice would be to reach out to the vendor or system administrators of the new radio system to determine what the technical requirements might be to interface with the new system. There might even be a requirement to purchase specific equipment in order to connect to the new system.

We already have the required radio and specs.

 

[RadioGuy3007]

How many extra channels do you need? Can't imagine an E.D. crew being overwhelmed with a ton of channels to get lost in. If you are now running a Gaitronics remote then the consolette will be set up for TRC. The radio will go up to 16 channels using TRC. Gaitronics has an upgraded remote that will utilize all 16 and give a programmed channel alias so no cheat sheet is required.

Thanks for your input. The state is requiring all radios have State Mutual Aid Channels programmed. We need to have the ER be able to monitor/tx on those channels if a large incident were to occur.

 

[kb4mdz]

A lot depends (yes, I know, it sounds like waffle-words) on what your situation is, and what it will become.

Do you just deal with ambulances in your county or region, or do you have them coming from out of area?

You say state is requiring all radios have State Mutual Aid Channels; what are those? VHF? UHF? Simplex, or repeater? Analog, Digital (P25? NXDN?) So many questions.

 

[RadioGuy3007]

A lot depends (yes, I know, it sounds like waffle-words) on what your situation is, and what it will become.

Do you just deal with ambulances in your county or region, or do you have them coming from out of area?

You say state is requiring all radios have State Mutual Aid Channels; what are those? VHF? UHF? Simplex, or repeater? Analog, Digital (P25? NXDN?) So many questions.

We are located in the middle of the state so we get a lot of more smaller services. Currently our state is on an outdated VHF system and slowly transitioning to a 800mhz P2 P25 system. The state is going to have 30 mutual aid channels across the state as well as county regional mutual aid channels and then the standard national mutual aid channels. Our APX is an all band consolette. Just because our city is an early adopter of the new system we will be one of the first ones on it prior to the completed build out in 2024. So we have a Gai Tronics unit that handles 4 frequencies Currently, State EMS, Local EMS, Air Ambulance and then Hospital to Hospital since we are across the street from a competing hospital. However one of the requirements is going to be to have all of these mutual aid channels in the radio and they may dedicate some of them to long distance transfers so hospitals can communicate with the crews if needed. I am unsure of the MDC5000. If we could do something like this Zetron unit we could keep their main channels on one screen and then the additional channels on a separate screen. I am trying to make it simple for ED staff. K4LAU suggested a system that I may look into because we could essentially put our ambulance phone and radio communications all in one

 

[RadioGuy3007]

I work as a communications tech in a regional trauma center. We have used several systems over the years. Our current system is CAREpoint by General Devices. It is a computer control system that will handle a large number of phone lines and radio channels. It is expensive but it works well for us. A big plus for us is that it has built in recording and some information management uses. It will connect to almost any radio system. The user support is outstanding if you pay for the gold plan.

Could you private message me? Just have some questions regarding this system.

 

[speedway_navigator]

If we could do something like this Zetron unit we could keep their main channels on one screen and then the additional channels on a separate screen.

I bet user training will be tough if the mutual aid channels keep changing, especially if they don't change often which causes users to let 'mouse memory' set in and they hit the icon they've always used but it's now the wrong one.
Let us know how your progress goes.

 

[RadioGuy3007]

I bet user training will be tough if the mutual aid channels keep changing, especially if they don't change often which causes users to let 'mouse memory' set in and they hit the icon they've always used but it's now the wrong one.
Let us know how your progress goes.

The channels aren't going to change from the state standpoint

 

[jeepsandradios]

The APX consollette only allows one channel selection at a time. Unless your planning multiple radios the GiaTronics nor the Zetron will interface with the APX. With the MCD you can change zones to the MA zone if needed or any other location. As said I dont know of another devise that will talk to the APX consollette other than a full fledged MCC console using ACIM. Even with ACIM you need to select the channel you want to talk on via the console screen. Not a separate module.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Correction on a statement above. The Zetron and Gia Tronics will interface with Tone Remote but functions of channel name and changing of zones will not work. It will just be channel up and down of 16 channels.

 

[Firebuff880]

You should maybe look at the Telex/Bosch CSoft product line . The Combination of IP-224 radio gateways and IP_2002 or the newer IP_300n units are a great fit for these type of scenarios. One thing I really like is the ability to move the "console" end from it's normal location to a more strategic location (AKA Not in the middle of chaos) when working a Mass Casualty / Disaster / Emergency. All you need is a LAN port properly provisioned with the correct VLAN capability and you can use the "console" in an quiet office or EOC for the deration of the incident..

 

[jeepsandradios]

MCD allows the same.....