Update on the Progress of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet)

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) represents a sea-change in the way EMS and other public safety entities communicate with one another. And that improved interoperability will lead to faster, more efficient patient care.

In the “How FirstNet Can Help EMS Provide Better Patient Care” webinar, hosted Thursday, February 19, by NHTSA’s Office of EMS (OEMS) as part of its ongoing EMS Focus: A Collaborative Federal Webinar Series, FirstNet experts discussed why FirstNet’s effort to build a public safety broadband network is important to EMS systems across the nation.

The webinar featured presentations by Kevin McGinnis, a FirstNet Board member and Amanda Hilliard, director of outreach for FirstNet. McGinnis currently heads Maine’s North East Mobile Health Services and is a nationally recognized advocate for broadband communications within the EMS community.

Together, McGinnis and Hilliard outlined the expected benefits of the proposed network for the EMS community and provided an overview of current FirstNet activities, including consultation with the public safety community. Potential benefits of the network are expected to include accessing and sharing patient information in addition to real-time monitoring of vitals, both of which have the potential to help EMS providers make better treatment, field and operational decisions. They also addressed how—and why—EMS should be involved in the planning and implementation of the network development.

McGinnis opened the presentation by discussing how EMS went from being a horizontal taxi service pre-1970s to being a true prehospital medical service after that point in time. But one way it didn’t change was in communications. By and large, he said, those narrow band systems will not support us into the future.

As a result, FirstNet identified four overall conclusions about the communications needs in EMS:

• We need situational awareness.
• We need a common operating picture.
• We require parallel processing.
• We have to have the ability to adopt available diagnostic applications.

In order to achieve this, the EMS industry needs a network of databases with adequate bandwidth, as well as GIS-based (visual) user interfaces that work for both EMS providers and doctors and allow for critical information to be easily available on the screen.

One of the areas in which FirstNet will help is with time-dependent conditions, such as trauma. By integrating an injury severity predictor, the FirstNet system will be able to predict the probability of a patient being injured in something like a vehicular accident based on data pulled from the patient’s smartphone. This injury severity predictor will allow for an earlier launch of resources and help better coordinate a faster response.

FirstNet devices will improve accident triage and enable parallel processing. EMS providers will be able to hop out of their vehicle upon arriving on scene and using Google Glass, or a similar system, start transmitting information to doctors, who can advise the provider in real time. The FirstNet system will be able to transmit multiple vital signs and monitor patient in real time, as well as download the patient’s medical history and more to obtain relevant information in the event the patient is unable to communicate themself.

McGinnis also highlighted other potential applications the EMS community might encounter in the future, including: two-way video, providing a virtual MD, which could be beneficial for mobile integrated healthcare; portable ultrasound, including video and images; multiple patient monitoring for use in mass casualty incidents; and even infrared crowd disease detection.

However, all of these things currently cannot be supported by the communications systems of today, which is why it’s imperative for states to strongly pursue adoption of the FirstNet system.

Hilliard noted the process of getting FirstNet up and running is still in its early stages, but progress can already be seen. All 50 U.S. states and six territories have received the initial consultation package from FirstNet. Of that group of 56, 46 have returned their initial consultation checklist to FirstNet, 13 have actually held their initial consultation meeting with FirstNet and an additional 19 have their consultation meetings scheduled. FirstNet’s aim is to have all 56 initial consultation meetings completed by the end of 2015.

The goals of the initial consultation meetings are to strengthen the relationship between FirstNet and individual states, provide updates about FirstNet’s progress, learn more about each state’s unique needs and discuss the next steps toward implementation.

To register and view the on-demand presentation of the webinar, visit EMS.gov.

To learn more about FirstNet, visit www.FirstNet.gov.