Amateur Radio and Disaster Medical Communications

1. Amateur Radio and Disaster Medical Communications Harold – KD7YOE Vaunn – KD7UJH Keith – N5MUR

2. Provide an overview of disaster medical communications to Thurston County … Amateur Radio Emergency Service Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service Amateur Radio Operators as appropriate Agenda Western WA Organization District Three Local Hospitals Capital Medical (CapMed) Providence St. Peter (St. Pete) HIPAA Reports Summary Briefing Purpose & Agenda

3. MST Name & Mission • Western Washington Medical Services [Emergency] Communications Team • aka Medical Services Team (MST), WWMSEC, WWMST. • Med-Net is the tactical call-sign for the Regional Medical Net Control in Seattle, WW7MST. • Provide vital emergency communications between medical facilities and suppliers in the community, local governments, and other emergency management agencies during disaster situations, when normal communications are inoperable or disrupted, utilizing amateur radio voice or digital networks, and other appropriate communications media.

4. Founded in 1990, after the Loma Prieta quake Incorporated as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization Affiliated with ARES and RACES President: Marina Zuetell, N7LSL For more info … www.ww7mst.org MST History

5. MST Customers • Hospitals and major medical centers • Public, private, and military • Blood banks • Medical and pharmacy suppliers • Public health departments • National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) • Disaster Medical assistance Teams (DMAT) • US Public Health Service • Military

6. MST Performs … • Inter-agency/hospital communications • Inter-agency/hospital medical net control • Intra-hospital communications • Communications from field operations to hospitals; transportation or incident sites • Inter-county, inter-state communications • Assistance with planning and implementing emergency communications

7. Required Training HIPAA Basic & Intermediate ICS: IS-100/200 (training.fema.gov) CPR and Blood Borne Pathogen Awareness ARRL EmComm 1, (www.emcomm.org) Recommended Training Orientation to Hospital/Medical Environment NIMS: IS-700 Hospital Emergency Incident Command (HEICS) Medical Radio Systems Tactical Communications and Net Control Operations Introduction to MCI & START systems (Simple Triage w/Rapid Transport) Basic & Intermediate Helicopter Awareness First Aid, etc. MST Training

8. MST State Frequencies • MST has a net on the W7SRZ repeater (146.90-, 103.5) Thursday night at 2000 hours. All members are encouraged to check-in if within range. • MST plans to add a UHF repeater (with linkage) at St. Pete to expand their coverage area.

9. For More Information on MST • Web Site: www.ww7mst.org • Public section: General information, training, etc. • Members only section: Requires permission from WWMSEC leadership and call-sign authentication. • Much of the information in this presentation and more can be found on the web site. • We have a dedicated mission and need more team members. • Wouldn’t you like to support your local medical facility?

10. Regional Homeland SecurityCoordination Districts

11. Western WA Counties Served • Snohomish Co - 4 hospitals, multiple clinics. Whatcom, Skagit, Island Cos - 6 hospitals, public health. • Kitsap Co - 3 hospitals, multiple clinics. Clallam, Jefferson Cos - 3 hospitals, public health. • Thurston Co - 2 hospitals, one clinic. Mason Lewis, Grays Harbor, Pacific Cos - 7 hospitals. • Clark Co - 2 hospitals. Cowlitz Co - 1 hospital, 2 campuses. • Pierce Co - 7 hospitals, multiple clinics, blood bank. • King Co - 19 hospitals, multiple service agencies, clinics, suppliers, blood bank, public health, Regional Medical Net Control, i.e., MedNet.

12. Disaster Medical Hospital Control • DMHC, aka Control Hospital • The single hospital responsible for coordinating all hospital responses within a region during a large-scale or mass casualty incident (MCI). • May also coordinate medical commo between hospitals. • DMHCs plan to talk with each other via 6 meters. • DMHCs for our last drill:

13. District Three Medical Facilities

14. District 3 MST Callout & Freqs • Call out is by pager or phone. One can also self-mobilize. • Start MST operations on the Capital Peak repeater. • If no success, try Cap Peak simplex output, 145.47. • MST ops will likely move to another simplex frequency. • The District 3 MST coordinator position is currently unfilled. Any volunteers?

15. CapMed Location • 3900 Capitol Mall Dr SW, Olympia, WA 98502-8654 • (360) 754-5858 • Enter thru the ER • Ask security to admit you to the 5th floor (utility) where you will find the Ham Radio Room. • Radio room phone: (360) 754-5858 x2603

16. Phone x2603 CapMed Equipment • The radio room is in a utility storage area. It has a work table and radio rack containing a power supply, 2m radio, 440 radio, filters, duplexer, and an external antenna. It has commercial power and light. • The room is loud. You will need to use the supplied headphones (two sets on table). The headphones have a stereo plug while the radios have mono jacks. Just push the plug in part way. • Use of Handie-Talkie's, and cellular phones is not authorized outside of the radio room unless approved by hospital authorities. Antenna Coax Work Table 440 2m Manuals Power Supply

17. CapMed Coordination • During a disaster, messages to and from CapMed are routed through the Disaster Control Center, at extension 1071, which is headed by Janine Cannon-Davis, the Emergency Department Director and Disaster Control Coordinator. • The hospital capacity report is also generated by the Disaster Control Center. • The CapMed Engineering Supervisor is Dean Rutledge, 956-2585. Commo equipment falls under his purview.

18. St. Pete Location • 413 Lilly Road NE Olympia, WA 98506-5166 • (360) 491-9480 • Enter thru the ER • Ask security to admit you to 2nd floor conference room, #202, where 2m coax is currently fed.

19. St. Pete Equipment • Currently, there are 2 coax feeds for two 2m antennas in the 2nd floor conference room, #202. This room is the EOC for Control Hospital/DMHC functions. This coax and the antennas have not been recently tested. • The emergency department, on the 1st floor, has a cart with a 2m radio, packet setup, and 3 power supplies, none tested. • Future plans call for installed radios in two locations covering 2m/440/6m: • An education room close to the EOC will have two stations for large-scale or MCI events. • Another station in the Emergency Department will serve small-scale local events. • The hospital has commercial power and light. • All rooms are expected to be loud, bring headphones. • Bring a 2m mobile & mag-mount/external antenna!!! • Handie-Talkie's, and cell phones are not authorized outside radio rooms unless approved by hospital authorities. Conf Rm Coax x2 Packet Setup 2m Radio & 3x12v Bricks

20. St. Pete Coordination • During a disaster, messages to and from St. Pete are routed through the Emergency Communications Officer, Keith Deline, in the EOC. • The Administrator on Call, who will be located in the 2nd floor conference room (EOC) during a disaster, is responsible for the hospital capacity report. • The St. Pete Facility and Technology Services Manager is Keith Deline, 493-7234. Commo equipment falls under his purview.

21. HIPAA • Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act • PHI – Protected Health Information • Any medical or personal information that can be directly connected to a patient is protected. • This info cannot be repeated, copied, transmitted, or otherwise transferred to others without written permission from the patient. • There are significant fines associated with PHI. • Under no circumstances should the death or other HIPAA related conditions of individuals be discussed or relayed by radio or other means from MST sites unless authorized by a local medical official. • For more info: www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa

22. Hospital Capacity Categories • Alpha I – ER Capacity right now! • Alpha II – ER Capacity in 30 minutes • Bravo I – OR Capacity in 30 minutes • Bravo II – OR Capacity in 60 minutes • Charlie I – Med-Surg beds available • Charlie II – ICU beds available • Charlie III – CCU beds available • Charlie IV – Pediatric beds available • Charlie V – Psychiatric beds available

23. Hospital Capacity Report

24. Summary • MST focuses on inter-hospital communications during disasters. • The starting point for MST during a disaster is the Capital Peak Repeater (145.47-, 100). • TC ARES/RACES covers St. Pete and CapMed. • St. Pete is the District 3 Control Hospital/DMHC. • Bring your own mobile 2 meter radio and mag-mount!!! • Questions???