County of Santa Clara Emergency Medical Services System Emergency Medical Services Agency 976 Lenzen Avenue, Suite 1200 San Jose, CA 95126 408.885.4250 voice 408.885.3538 fax www.sccemsagency.org May 11, 2015 To: Copy: Santa Clara County 911 Receiving Hospitals Jo Coffaro Hospital Council of Northern California Mike Williams Interim EMS Director From: Subject: Josh Davies EMS Section Chief Modernization of EMS 911 Receiving Hospital Computers The EMS Agency is in the process of replacing the current computers that have been provided to each Santa Clara County EMS 911 Receiving Hospital. The computers are owned by the County and provided for use by each hospital to manage diversion, conduct bed polling, receive multiple causality incident and system alerts, print EMS patient care records, and view inbound patients consistent with Santa Clara County Prehospital Care Policy #506: Internet Based EMS Communications System. Each hospital will receive the following items and the current County-owned computer systems will be removed. EMS Computer Equipment 1 Desktop PC 1 24 Inch Flat Screen Monitor 1 Screen Privacy Protector 1 Keyboard and Mouse 1 Printer 1 Set of Speakers Santa Clara County Prehospital Care Policy and hospital receiving agreements require hospitals to monitor EMSystem at all times (via the Internet) with speakers to receive audible alerts. Since the last computer update occurred in 2004 and the EMS System is moving to more modern patient care records and various electronic dashboards for hospital use, the replacement computers should be beneficial. A division of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department
Understanding that each hospital has a complex information system network, the County is providing only hardware so that each facility can load appropriate security and other appropriate utilities software. Since the computers are owned by the EMS Agency, EMTs and paramedics will also access the computer to print patient care records. A complete setup guide will be provided in advance of the delivery of the hardware. All applications used by the EMS Agency are internet based and do not require specialized software. EMS Agency personnel will coordinate scheduling of the replacement systems with the designated EMS Liaisons through Jason Weed, EMS Specialist. The installation of replacement devices is scheduled to occur in June and July. Funding for this modernization project has been provided by the Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jason Weed, EMS Specialist/Hospital Liaison, at 408.792.1338 or by email at Jason.Weed@phd.sccgov.org Attachment: Santa Clara County Prehospital Care Policy #506: Internet Based EMS Communications System
POLICY # 506 County of Santa Clara Emergency Medical Services System Policy #506: Internet Based EMS Communications System INTERNET BASED EMS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM Effective: October 15, 2012 Replaces: May 5, 2008 Review: November 2015 Resources: EMResource Users Guide EMS Communications System Guide I. Purpose EMResource is a web-based application that links various EMS System Stakeholders for the purpose of exchanging critical information. Uses include tracking of hospital resource availability, as well as dispatch center, public health, and EMS system information sharing. II. Acute Care Hospitals A. Hospitals shall use EMResource for maintaining hospital emergency department and trauma center status, providing bed availability to the Medical-Health Branch of the Santa Clara Operational Area, and for responding to disaster inquiries. Public Health and EMS System notices will also be published to the site as appropriate. B. EMResource is to be maintained by each individual facility. This includes, but is not limited to, maintenance and upgrade of all associated hardware, software, and licensing. C. It is the responsibility of each facility to ensure that any staff expected to D. EMResource is to remain online at all times, and placed in an easily accessible location within the Emergency Department. E. The sound volume on EMResource is to be maintained at an adequate level to alert staff within the facility at all times, with external speakers attached, and is never to be placed on mute. F. The use of the EMResource computer is limited to operation of EMResource. Page 1 of 4
POLICY # #102 506 G. The County shall serve as the EMResource Regional Administrator, and be responsible for coordination between the facility and EMResource. H. The County shall actively explore funding opportunities to cover the service costs associated with the use of EMResource. III. Permitted Air Resource Providers A. Santa Clara County Permitted Air Resource Providers shall maintain their respective statuses on EMResource. B. EMResource is to be maintained by each provider agency. This includes, but is not limited to, maintenance and upgrade of all associated hardware, software, and licensing. C. It is the responsibility of each facility to ensure that any staff expected to D. EMResource is to remain online at all times. E. The sound volume on EMResource is to be maintained at an adequate level to alert staff at all times, with external speakers attached, and is never to be placed on mute. IV. Private Ambulance Dispatch Centers A. All Santa Clara County Private Ambulance Dispatch Centers shall monitor EMResource, respond to unit availability queries, and disseminate emergency information to field providers, as appropriate. B. EMResource is to be maintained by each provider agency. This includes, but is not limited to, maintenance and upgrade of all associated hardware, software, and licensing. C. It is the responsibility of each provider to ensure that any staff expected to D. EMResource is to remain online at all times. Page 2 of 4
POLICY # #102 506 E. The sound volume on EMResource is to be maintained at an adequate level to alert staff at all times, with external speakers attached, and is never to be placed on mute. V. Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) A. Santa Clara County PSAPs will be notified of multiple patient/disaster/medical-health events via EMResource. B. It is the responsibility of each provider to ensure that any staff expected to C. EMResource should remain online at all times. D. The sound volume on EMResource should be maintained at an adequate level to alert staff at all times, with external speakers attached, and is never to be placed on mute. VI. 911 EMS System Ambulances and EMS Supervisor Units A. EMResource must remain online at all times. B. It is the responsibility of the provider to ensure that all staff expected to use EMResource be properly trained and refreshed on a routine basis. C. Field Personnel are to use EMResource to determine hospital emergency department and trauma center status. County ambulance personnel shall view hospital status on the mobile data console (MDC) to determine the appropriate transport location. VII. Miscellaneous Uses A. Tracking of Santa Clara County medical-health resources. B. Coordination of Influenza Care Center (ICC) patients. C. Tracking of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). D. Tracking of board and care (B&C) facilities. Page 3 of 4
POLICY # #102 506 E. Sharing of Operational Area resource information. F. Federal Hospital Available Beds for Emergencies and Disasters (HavBED) standard reporting. G. County and community clinic alerting. Page 4 of 4