ER/Hospital use of a scanner

[BC2001]

I live in Southeastern Kentucky and I noticed my local Hospital uses two scanners. One is in the admissions for the ER (older, unknown model) and the other is in the ER itself (Uniden BCD996P2).

I also noticed they monitor not only the EMS channel, but the Sheriff as well, atleast.

Just out of pure curiosity and as a conversation starter, do most hospitals use scanners like my local hospital does?
If one is used at your local hospital, what brand/model do they have?

 

[TailGator911]

Good question! I will ask the next time they wheel me into the ER

But, seriously, my local hospital is on the Ohio MARCS Digital Phase 1 system and I know they have an affiliated mobile/base there that they use to communicate with the incoming EMTs. I wonder if they can hear LEOs, too.

 

[Kingscup]

Generally no. I can see maybe smaller hospitals might have one. I doubt the hospital pays for it. More than likely, an employee brought it in.

 

[ten13]

The Langone Center of NYU Hospital in NYC had a job opening for someone with a background in police or fire communications to monitor NYC's emergency radio systems (police, fire, OEM, EMS, etc), among other responsibilities.

We are not in the 20th Century anymore...!:

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide 1st level support for all Emergency related issues that present themselves to the Operator Call Center.
• Proactively monitor social media, CNN, and NYC OEM feeds for pertinent news that could affect NYULMC negatively, causing a disruption to everyday business.
• Liaison with Telecom Senior leadership, Security leadership, and Emergency Management team to aid in the message delivery and actions that are designed to keep the employees at NYULMC, HJD, and Lutheran safe.
• Proactively call critical department, Buildings, RED+F, etc. to see if all systems are operational.
• Ability to receive and efficiently execute instructions from EM+ER, Charge Nurse and Administrator On-Call.
• Assist with Fire Safety Alerts (include Fire Alarms, Smoke Condition and Fire Drills.
• Activate Security Alerts per incident type (Combative Person, Bomb Threat, Active shooter).
• Watch Command High Impact Notification via OEM Radio (10/60 and MCI Level B, C, D Notifications).
• Control over Send Word Now and Single Wire emergency systems
• Keeping of Electronic logs of all Roll-Call and all reported incidents details and report findings to appropriate leadership.
• Connects multiple parties in a conference call to discuss incident specifics and next steps.
• Assist in training phone operators and new ECO.
• Standard Switchboard duties such as answering hospital main line, patient information line, activating clinical codes, and handling page requests.

Minimum Qualifications:

Must have a High School diploma.

• 5+ years of relevant experience in any of the following areas: FDNY/NYPD/911Operator/OEM Call Center/Ambulance Call Center.
• Leadership Skills (ability to lead, motivate and stimulate others).
• Computer Skills (Excel, Word, Internet navigation, Social Media and emails).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

 

[BC2001]

Good question! I will ask the next time they wheel me into the ER

But, seriously, my local hospital is on the Ohio MARCS Digital Phase 1 system and I know they have an affiliated mobile/base there that they use to communicate with the incoming EMTs. I wonder if they can hear LEOs, too.

The hospital here also has a radio to talk to incoming EMTs. I would imagine that they all atleast have that. But I may be wrong.

 

[BC2001]

Generally no. I can see maybe smaller hospitals might have one. I doubt the hospital pays for it. More than likely, an employee brought it in.

That makes sense. The hospital I am talking about is in a small town, and it isn't a very big hospital either.

 

[jaspence]

The hospital where I lived before had a radio on the county system.

 

[ofd8001]

I can see where some communities may find this desirable. It allows them to keep their finger on the pulse of what is going on and whether they might get slammed from some incident. (I couldn't resist the pulse part, sorry).

Here in Louisville, all hospitals have a radio on the MetroSafe system. If an ambulance is headed their way with a patient, the hospital is Call Alerted on a pre-designated Hospital talkgroup. University of Louisville Hospital also has radios for Air Methods (helicopters) as well as VHF for adjacent counties not on MetroSafe. Also units in the field may contact UofL Hospital for medical control purposes.

They needed to have some form of call alerting, tone out, etc., as things are so hectic, they would otherwise miss being called.

 

[BC2001]

It allows them to keep their finger on the pulse of what is going on and whether they might get slammed from some incident. (I couldn't resist the pulse part, sorry).

😆

 

[BC2001]

I was actually surprised at first that they had a BCD996P2.

All of my counties public safety communications are all analog.
But I suppose that goes back to what @Kingscup said in his answer above (an employee likely brought it in).

 

[BC2001]

I was actually surprised at first that they had a BCD996P2.

All of my counties public safety communications are all analog.
But I suppose that goes back to what @Kingscup said in his answer above (an employee likely brought it in).

Because I dont see the hospital buying a digital scanner for all analog monitoring .

Then again, maybe they know something I dont (as in my county may be planning on going digital soon).

 

[kb7gjy]

Our local hospital has both a radio to communicate with incoming ambulance units and a scanner that monitors fire and L.E.

I talked to a could of the R.N.s who said it would be a great tool if.....

When there was a incident on the Fire radio, that PD would not then try to run every plate that comes through town. (Something I have thought myself. Lets say a structure fire, mutual aid called from other districts. That is when certain officers and deputies start running plates for ID or parking violations, etc.) And yes L.E. is aware because 95% of the time L.E. is notified of Fire/EMS calls. But I digress

I know, both Fire and EMS monitor local L.E. just so they get a heads up before the tones drop. But we are a small rural county, I don't imagine it would work as well in a large system.

(Side Note) which I find odd, almost all Fire and EMS has the ability to communicate on the local L.E. channel, but only a few deputies have the ability to talk on fire/ems channels. (VHF analog is all that is used here for local fire/ems/le. State radios are UHF and they guard them like no ones business even amongst other agencies. I know a local trooper had to get special permission to have the highway department car to car programmed into his radio.

 

[ecps92]

OR they have not found those channels in another zone. [Lazy]
I've seen code plugs with much in them, but users never explained why or how to use them
Looks like Fire and EMS did figure it out

With todays radios and the ability to have 16 channels and 100+ zones, no reason to not have it.

One of my local PD's had to use the FD channels on Christmas, everyone was dispatched [wrong side of the city]
for a similar street name, PD Sgt found the fire and directed apparatus into the real location and even provided
hydrant locations and exposure issues as well as accountability [he also is a former FF and current Swat Paramedic
]

(Side Note) which I find odd, almost all Fire and EMS has the ability to communicate on the local L.E. channel, but only a few deputies have the ability to talk on fire/ems channels. (VHF analog is all that is used here for local fire/ems/le. State radios are UHF and they guard them like no ones business even amongst other agencies. I know a local trooper had to get special permission to have the highway department car to car programmed into his radio.

 

[APX7500X2]

Most of the NYC hospitals listen to NYPD/NYFD in some manor. This is NYC...bad things happen sometimes, and sometimes in BIG ways.
I get up to CT a lot and I know a few of the hospitals dispatch centers listen to the local PD, The armed officers at Yale Hospital are always listening to New Haven PD, Its nice to know when the guy with the gun that just shot someone on the corner is going to come running thru the ER (It happened)

 

[JimD56]

I can cover with certainty the ER's and Trauma Centers here in Miami having dropped dozens of patients through the years.
ALL of the ER's and all 5 Trauma Centers have County MEDCOM Base Stations 450-460mhz UHF Motorola CDM1250's for ER to Fire Rescue comms patient transport.
Ryder Trauma in downtown Miami has 2 Portables 1) XTS5000 UHF analog monitoring Miami-Dade Fire (we gave it to them) and 2) APX7xxx monitoring City of Miami FD, the outlying other 4 trauma Centers just have the XTS5000 for MDFR. No police monitoring at all at any facility.

 

[techguru]

Both of my local hospitals have their own channels on the P25 system and EMS calls in the status, vitals, and ETA of every incoming patient over it.