Communications and Patient Tracking Solution Project
The goal of this project is to establish an interoperable, secure, information sharing solution that connects the healthcare system both horizontally and vertically to the established Tiered Emergency Response System and covers at least 90% of the state's population.
General Project Information
Through a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Preparedness and Response implemented the Communications and Patient Tracking Solution Project. On April 1, 2009, Intermedix Corporation was awarded a three year contract to implement their EMResource and EMTrack web-based applications throughout the state. This contract was renewed for an additional three years in 2012. Attached is the Communications and Patient Tracking (CPTS) Work Plan.
EMResourceTM and EMTrackTM will facilitate the exchange of information between emergency medical service providers, hospitals, health care entities, 911 dispatch centers and emergency operations centers. By sharing information, Intermedix will help facilities efficiently manage patients and resources and allow for pre disaster planning.
EMResource tracks key hospital and health care system resources and information on a daily basis in a real time environment. EMTrack tracks the location of patients and their condition as well as other important information. Together these tools will increase Florida's preparedness and response to public health emergencies and support the day-to-day information sharing needs of emergency medical services, hospitals, and health care providers.
Florida's Implementation Strategy
With the help of Lead Agencies within each region the department is bringing EMResource and EMTrack throughout Florida. The Department of Health pays for the availability of EMResource and EMTrack to an unlimited number of users and the cost of training (provided by Intermedix). EMResource and EMTrack are customized to each region's needs, including integration with current systems. User training is provided on-site and through webinars.
Participation is voluntary and done in partnership with local and regional emergency medical service agencies, county health departments, medical centers, emergency management, hospitals, and other health care providers.
Participants are not required to provide any specialized equipment to implement EMResource or EMTrack and interface options are provided to communicate with current systems already in place. EMResource and EMTrack are available 24/7/365 in real time from any location with internet access.
To access the implementation tools and templates please click on CPTS Central Communication Site.
Contact Information
Each region in Florida has a Lead Agency which partners with Intermedix to implement EMResource and EMTrack within their region. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Lead Agency in their region. Text equivalent
Benefits to Communities
EMResource and EMTrack are available at no cost to users. The Department of Health pays for all users and training costs. EMResource and EMTrack are also customized to meet local preferences and needs.
Intermedix complies with state and national confidentiality and privacy standards for patients. The patient tracking system includes at a minimum elements from the NEMSIS Uniform Pre-Hospital EMS Dataset, which are nationally required standards. The resource component tracks and reports key hospital and healthcare system resources available during disasters on a county, regional, and statewide basis consistent with HAvBED standard definitions.
Intermedix also meets national standards for interoperable communications and data definitions set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Office of Preparedness and Emergency Operations (OPEO), Division of National Healthcare Preparedness (DNHPP), and Hospital Preparedness Program Cooperative Agreement guidance.
Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
For questions about the Communications and Patient Tracking Solution Project, please email: BureauofPrep&Resp@doh.state.fl.us