Rural Emergency Medical Services

SECTION IV

Index of Strategies by Implementation Timeframe and Relative Cost

Exhibit IV-1 classifies strategies according to the expected timeframe and relative cost for this emphasis area. In several cases, the implementation time will depend on such factors as an agency?s willingness to accept a change in policy, legislative needs, or existing communication infrastructure and/or architecture. The range of costs may also vary for some of these strategies because of many of the same factors listed previously. Placement in the exhibit is meant to reflect the most common expected application of the strategy.

EXHIBIT IV-1

Classification of Strategies According to Expected Timeframe and Relative Cost

Timeframe for
Implementation		 Strategy Relative Cost to Implement and Operate
Low Moderate Moderate to High High
Short (<1 year) 20.1 A5—Integrate EMS systems into the Safe Communities effort X      
20.1 A6—Use mobile data technologies that are interoperable with hospital systems     X  
20.1 B1—Develop resource and performance standards unique to the specific rural EMS   X    
20.1 B4—Provide evaluation results to elected and administrative officials at the county and local levels X      
20.1 C1 Utilize technology-based instruction for rural EMS training   X    
20.1 C2—Establish an exchange program to allow rural EMS providers to spend a specified number of hours in urban/suburban systems X      
20.1 C4—Require first care training for all public safety emergency response personnel, including law enforcement officers     X  
20.1 C5—Educate rural residents about the availability, capability, and limitations of existing systems X      
Medium (1-2 years) 20.1 A1—Establish programs with organizations to utilize nontraditional employees as EMS responders X      
20.1 A2—Facilitate development of regional resources and/or cooperatives   X    
20.1 A3—Integrate support of EMS into rural hospital financing programs X      
20.1 A4—Integrate information systems and highway safety activities     X  
20.1 B2—Identify, provide, and mandate efficient and effective methods for collection of necessary EMS data   X    
20.1 B3—Identify and evaluate model rural EMS operations X      
20.1 C3—Include principles of traffic safety and injury prevention as part of EMS continuing education   X    
20.1 C6—Provide "bystander care" training programs targeting new drivers, rural residents, truck drivers, Interstate commercial bus drivers, and motorcyclists   X    
20.1 C7—Provide EMS training programs in high schools in rural areas   X    
20.1 D3—Utilize GPS technology to improve response time     X  
20.1 D4—Integrate automatic vehicle location (AVL) and computer-aided navigation (CAN) technologies into all computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems     X  
20.1 D5—Equip EMS vehicles with multi-service and/or satellite-capable telephones     X  
Long (>2 years) 20.1 A7—Require all communication systems to be interoperable with surrounding and state jurisdictions       X
20.1 D1—Improve cellular telephone coverage in rural areas     X  
20.1 D2—Improve compliance of rural 9-1-1 centers with FCC wireless "Phase II" automatic location capability     X