Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
information requests, supplies, and pharmaceutical
orders are all relayed by some form of telephone,
radio, or computer system. Patients are delivered
or discharged using phones, radios, etc. What
would happen if, suddenly, all these communica-
tion systems failed?
Hospital disaster plans should include alterna-
tive communication methods, and they should be
practiced right along with other elements of an
exercise or drill.
Amateur radio operators, also known as hams,
are experienced, trained emergency communica-
tors who are volunteers. Their services are free;
they really enjoy performing their special service
and using their skills. They usually bring their
own equipment, although having equipment in the
hospital ready to go will speed up the response
time. They can provide both internal and external
communications; and they have use of a wide
variety of radio frequencies and modes. They can
free up hospital personnel to perform patient care,
and leave the monitoring of radios, and sending and
receiving messages to those who really like to do it.
Amateur Radio is an excellent resource that
should be included in every hospital's planning for
response and recovery.
References
1. http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/
47cfr97_04.html
2. http://www.arrl.org
3. http://www.races.net/
4. <http://www.fema.gov/library/civilpg.shtm>
5. http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/
47cfr97_04.html
6. ftp://www.fcc.gov/pub/Reports/rpts5001.txt
7. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.html
8. Marina, Zuetell. Providing efficient healthcare
when the phones fail.
Washington Family Physi-
cian
, 31(2): 30-32, 2004.
9. http//:www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?
id=11927
10. http//:www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/smlist
11. http//:www.hdscs.org
12. http//:www.icomamerica.com/amateur/
Additional Resources
http://www.emcomm.org/
http://www.ww7mst.org
