FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMMACK VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS
PO BOX 819
COMMACK, NY 11725

Commack, NY Since December of 2005 Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corps has been serving as the pilot agency for the Suffolk County Department of Fire/Rescue’s mobile data terminal department. The data terminals, or MDTS as they are commonly called, are actually fully functional laptop computers that connect directly with the Fire/Rescue’s newly installed computer aided dispatch system.

The volunteer agency, which handles almost 3000 EMS calls a year in the greater Commack area, has equipped its advanced life support first responder vehicle and three of its ambulances with the computers. While the county has supplied the infrastructure through an agreement with the Suffolk County Police Department, the Corps supplied the cost of the equipment and the installation. “We knew this was the wave of the future.  We’ve seen it work in other places around the country, and we knew that it would greatly help our ability to service our customers” stated Corps Assistant Chief Chuck Meyer. “It was a great opportunity to be on the forefront of a program that will revolutionize our system”.

The MDTs provide the responders with all information relevant to an alarm on dispatch. No longer must they wait while the information is recorded by the in-house dispatcher before responding. The information is transmitted simultaneously to all applicable units and the dispatcher.  Included in the data is all the relevant information on the alarm including location information, call back #s, callers name, and particulars from the caller interview. Information is provided in short form system determinants as well as long form plain language text. “We know exactly where we are going, exactly what the caller reported almost word for word.   It can be as specific as: a 46-year old female who is conscious and alert with chest pain, trouble breathing, and a cardiac history” comments Meyer.  This provides invaluable information that allows the department to respond with the most appropriate equipment and personnel in the most appropriate fashion.

An additional advantage is that the MDTs provide real-time updates of information. If additional information becomes available it is automatically transmitted to all responding units and available for the dispatcher. When the patient’s condition is upgraded or downgraded in severity the responders have the ability to adjust their response, immediately, as required.  Conversely the responder’s status is automatically transmitted back to the County  A global positioning system provides the county communication center with real-time location of the responding apparatus, and when appropriate it can poll the available ambulances automatically and recommend the closest appropriate unit to respond.

“Another significant advantage is the reporting solution that it provides” commented Meyer. All agencies in Suffolk County are struggling to come to terms with the new response time requirements imposed by the Bishop Law. “All our information/times are transmitted immediately to the county, we’ve met and exceeded the reporting requirements of the law automatically”.

The MDT also provides a detailed map of Suffolk County that includes all levels of road travel from fire paths through major interstates. When a call is dispatched the location is automatically referenced on the computer and provides the responders with a verbal, graphic, and textual set of directions from their present location. This has proven far superior to the previous direction systems that were not real-time and only provided directions from the stations. “Now the computer can route us, immediately, from the hospital, from another alarm, or from our headquarters right to the scene” reports Meyer.  “This is very helpful to newer drivers who are less familiar with the district, and for all of us when we go on a mutual aid to a neighboring department”.

The in-house, or local dispatcher, is not left out of the loop in this new mobile system. Through the use of an internet browser the dispatcher is able to monitor the progress of responding units through a series of monitors. Requests for assistance that are taken locally, direct, by the dispatcher can be entered into the system.  This allows the responders to still take advantage of the advanced technology offered by the county and still report the response times on these events electronically.

The department which handles just shy of 3000 EMS calls a year with its volunteer staff of approximately one hundred adult and forty youth squad members has finally gotten the product to an almost finished state. “Its taken awhile to make adjustments and programming changes to adapt the MDTs to our needs” says Meyer. “We actually started to process close to nine months ago”.  The department is in the process of rolling out training and policy to the entire membership.
The department which currently has four of its eight vehicle fleet on-line is looking to complete installation of the equipment in the remaining vehicles. “We’re looking forward to being able to complete the project and bring 100% of our vehicles on-line.  Then we’ll be 100% capable.” Says Meyer. The units have been well received by the departments responders. They view the equipment as a helpful tool that will decrease response times and keep them informed.

Pictured:               

Youth Squad Dispatcher Christopher Ciaccio monitors the status of CVAC vehicles as they respond on an alarm.

EMT Ed Nordstrom verifies location information on the mobile data terminal prior to response.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

MATTHEW WILLENS
3RD ASSISTANT CHIEF
631-499-3942         CORPS