title: Making connections. Voice and data solutions for EMS.
abstract: Communications used to be so simple-1) grab the radio, 2) push and talk. Now we're besieged by a confusing assortment of technology and terms-wideband, broadband, VoIP, RoIP, ect.- and a constand thrumming imperative to achieve and improve and perfect some mystical state of full interoperability. Frankly, it can all be a bit much. With this supplement, we hope to clarify you options. We examine the importance of broadband for EMS, with its potential for larger data "pipes" between the hospital and the field; advances in the promising technologies of Voice over IP and Radio over IP; and how some systems are improving their interconnectedness and resulting operations. The jargon can be overwhelming, but the ideas are worth understanding.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Careless
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Erich
mesh_terms: D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends*; D003628:Database Management Systems; D004631:Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems / Q000639:trends*; D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D035846:Law Enforcement; D016495:Police; D016730:Program Development; D011845:Radio; D049250:Speech Recognition Software; D018511:Systems Integration; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014481:United States; D014584:User-Computer Interface