REMCS Radio System

The REMCS/UH-EMS communication system is comprised of several VHF and UHF radio systems with a multitude of redundant radio communication sites throughout the coverage area. In addition to the radio system, REMCS utilizes an alpha/numeric and MDT paging system to provide the timely transfer of information to the field units.  To bolster efforts to improve unit safety and reduce response times, all vehicles in the UH-EMS fleet have been equipped since 1998 with a GPS-based AVL (automatic vehicle location) MDT system that monitored by REMCS.  Information from this system is displayed graphically on a map of the service area to aid dispatchers in selecting the closest appropriate units for assignments.

REMCS Radio Channels

UHEMS Channel 1 Citywide (KVV773 – Newark Metro JEMS1, VHF Repeater)

Primary dispatch and operations for all UH-EMS Newark/Northern NJ operations

 

UHEMS Channel 5 (WPRI404 – Essex County JEMS1, VHF Simplex)

Tactical, inquiry, and paging channel for UH-EMS Newark operations

 

UHEMS Channel 6 (KNFL662 - Essex County OEM, VHF Repeater)

Operational Secondary and Special Operations/ICS channel for UH-EMS

 

New Jersey State Police Radio Network (Statewide 800MHz Trunk)

JEMSTAR Flight Operations (NorthSTAR Dispatch)

JEMSTAR Flight Operations (SouthSTAR Dispatch)

NJSP Aviation/Air Operations

New Jersey MICU Statewide Network

New Jersey Trauma Network

New Jersey Hospital Emergency Radio Network (HERN)

New Jersey TF-1 USAR Talkgroups

New Jersey EMS Task Force Talkgroups

 

REMCS and UH-EMS field units also have access to the following interagency radio systems:

MED Channels 1-8 (UHF Field Telemetry)

REMCS MED 9-10 (UHF Special Operations)

SPEN-1 (Statewide Police Interagency)

SPEN-4 (Statewide Fire/EMS Interagency)

JEMS-3 (Statewide disaster operations)

Newark Police Department Dispatch

Newark Fire Department Dispatch

Essex County Office of Emergency Management (OEM)

VCALL, VTAC-1/2/3/4 (Homeland Security Interoperations – VHF)

UCALL, UTAC-1/2/3/4 (Homeland Security Interoperations – UHF)

REMCS CAD/AVL System

In 2006 REMCS installed a new state of the art computer aided dispatch (CAD) system which incorporates all of the dispatch software packages into one user interface.  This Windows based software replaced the Unix-based Geac Public Safety CAD system which was implemented in 1993.  The new CAD incorporates the internationally recognized Medical Priority Dispatch (MPD) software for screening and prioritizing medical requests that has been successfully used at UH-EMS for over 10 years.

This software is also integrated with the Trimble GPS-based AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) system that was installed in all UH-EMS operated vehicles beginning in 1998.  The AVL software automatically polls vehicle GPS location and status updates from the MDT consoles in the vehicles.  This information is utilized to update unit status within CAD and is displayed graphically of a map of the UH-EMS service area.  Dispatchers are able to utilize real-time location data and computer recommendations to assign the closest available system resources to any given assignment.  This results in an increase in unit safety and reduction in response time.

9-1-1 Public Safety Dispatch Point 

REMCS serves as the medical public safety dispatch point for all 911 requests originating within the City of Newark.  Through the stateside enhanced 9-1-1 (E911) system call-takers are provided with the telephone number and address of the caller (ANI/ALI) to help expedite the call screening process.  All 911 calls and emergency medical requests originating from traditional 7-digit phone numbers are automatically routed to the Public Safety Answer Point (PSAP) operated by the Newark Police Department.  When police call takers identify the emergency as medical in nature or that medical assistance may be needed, such as with assaults and motor vehicle accidents, the call is routed to REMCS for medical screening.