This phase would enable dynamic, real-time resource information management with enhancements such as automatic vehicle location, GIS mapping, better access to critical patient information and support for mobilization of EMS agencies to disasters.

There are several components to this module:

EMS vehicles would be fitted with communications relay capabilities which will enable real-time transmission of GPS tracking and patient information. Geo-data type information about the location and direction of travel of vehicles will transmit to a web-browser which can be queried by receiving hospitals. Conceivably, GPS can be used to provide directions to call locations, rendezvous information to helicopters, and specific information about patients at that location (with protection for patient confidentiality). For a broad disaster response in which multiple ambulances and other tracked resources are mobilized, this tracking information can be used to locate vehicles responding to a location and their status.

EMS services will have remote data capabilities (PDA, tablet, laptop, etc) which will enable data collection and the transmission of specific patient information to a facility they are transporting to. This would provide transfer of basic patient information to a receiving hospital. On a day-to-day basis, this system can provide more robust information than can occur now. On a disaster response, this system would provide redundancy to radio/cell communications (which are many times overloaded in a disaster) and would provide ambulance status information to an incident commander.

The key to this module is to make it useful and functional on a day-to-day basis. Then, tracking and information capabilities can be broadened to manage multiple EMS services and other agencies in a mutual aid response. An incident commander could use the system to track location of numerous resources (to evaluate their capabilities and estimated time of arrival) and to better track their status. Agencies and facilities which utilize the system daily to assess the availability of limited resources will also then be able to seamlessly use the system to manage disasters - both local and larger.

Relationship / Integration With Other Modules:

• Integrates extensively with the Resource and Disaster Status module.
  
  
• Integrates with the Licensing and EMS Management module for vehicles and personnel such as EMTs.
  
  
• Integrates with the Incident Management module.
  
  
• Integrates with the MHMAS module.
  
  
• The P-25 Radio Communications and Mobile Data systems can facilitate transmission of data.