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NEMSIS – All the Time…..
by
Dan Voss, Product Manager
That’s probably a little exaggerated,
but this is the third consecutive
article that I’ve written that discusses
NEMSIS. Why talk about NEMSIS again?
Because it is impossible to talk about
version 5.3 of Sweet-Billing and
Sweet-Field Data without talking about
NEMSIS.
If you are asking yourself, “What is
NEMSIS?” you aren’t alone. For
background information, this article
from last year may be helpful:
http://www.ortivusna.com/OrtivusTALK/4Q05/IndustryUpdates.htm#NEMSIS.
Version 5.3 of
Sweet-Billing
and
Sweet-Field
Data is targeted for delivery this fall,
and we intend version 5.3 of these
products to be NEMSIS Gold Compliant.
However, we will not be able to claim
this compliance until we complete a
detailed testing process with the NEMSIS
Technical Assistance Center.
NEMSIS has become one of those ‘gotta
have’ features, that customers have
started requesting largely because their
state has told them that they need it.
Integration of the NEMSIS dataset in
Sweet-Billing and Sweet-Field Data has
resulted in the addition of new fields –
lots of them. While there is value for
many customers in being able to collect
this data since it makes the state happy
– Ortivus is also concerned about making
the customer happy; and generally,
filling in more data fields to satisfy
state requirements delights the billing
staff about as much as paying their
taxes.
The implementation of NEMSIS has been
the catalyst for several improvements in
Sweet-Billing/Station:
-
Separation of Field Data Provider
Impressions from Call Reasons
-
Redesigned Call Reasons screen improves
support for condition codes and provides
access to more information for determining
the appropriate reasons
-
Moves much of the information from the Field
Info tab grid to new fields on existing or
new tabs to place this data in locations
where it is more easily located
-
Ability to designate a payer as a
non-billable payer
Sweet-Field
Data users will notice:
-
Expanded documentation capabilities
-
Addition of APGAR and Pediatric Trauma Score
calculators
-
Revised PCR to incorporate new data
collected on patient care
Sweet-CAD
Enough about NEMSIS – the third product in the
Sweet line of software –
Sweet-CAD
is expanding in version 5.3. MobiCAD for EMS
will be offered as an option, beginning in
version 5.3. MobiCAD serves as an extension of
the CAD system in the vehicle. MobiCAD provides
all the tools for silent dispatch operation
along with map display capabilities.
Importance of
Geodecoding Addresses
by Alex Sagala
As stated in
Wikipedia,
“geocoding is the process of assigning
geographic identifiers (e.g., codes or
geographic coordinates expressed as
latitude-longitude) to map features and other
data records, such as street addresses.
Arguably, nowhere else is the need for complete,
current, accurate and precise spatial
information more important than for emergency
response for Public Safety. It is a matter of
safety, and often a matter of life or death.
Properly geocoded addresses open the door to
many possibilities - decreased response times
ensuring a better level of service to the
population. Since a geocoded address contains
spatial information, it is easily displayable on
a map. Using this information, modern mapping
software can quickly determine the closest
available responding agency unit to the call, as
well as determine the quickest route for the
unit to respond to the call and the quickest
route to the hospital. This is only the tip of
the iceberg. Geocoded addresses can also be used
in law enforcement for detailed crime analysis,
geo-profiling of criminal activity, determining
areas which need an increase in law enforcement
presence, discovering locations for new
stations, identifying trends or "hot spots" of
gang-related activities, and more. Fire agencies
can use this information in their building code
enforcement and inspection, fire district
re-allocation, fire station sitting, resource
analysis, incident analysis, tracking of
hazardous materials, and much more.
As you can see, a GIS - geographical information
system - has many possible applications for all
areas of Public safety, but is dependant upon on
accurate, current and correct spatial data.
Building an accurate GIS is a monumental task,
and will require a substantial outlay of time,
resource and expense. As if this was not enough,
all this data must be maintained and refined in
our ever-changing world. The best way to
approach this task is through cooperation and
coordination with all interested agencies and
parties. Seek others willing to participate.
Share your information, combine it and maintain
it together, easing the burden on each
individual organization.
Arriving at the point where an agencies’ GIS is
close to perfect is no easy task, but it is a
fantastic, almost invaluable asset, once it is
developed and maintained.
 Fire Billing:
A New Approach To Supplement Financial Gaps
By Bob
Holdsworth
Reprinted with permission from June 2006
InPerspective newsletter, a Holdsworth-Pelton
publication (www.holdsworthpelton.com)
It was once taboo to
cut spending from town budgets for fire
departments, ambulance services or police
departments. But times change; inflation creeps
up as do expenses. Many fire departments don’t
have deep pockets so they’re forced to depend on
their town budgets, donations and possibly grant
money. But donations can fluctuate and grant
money is never guaranteed. The only thing that
is certain is what the town/city says the
department is going to get in their yearly
budget.
Given those facts,
it’s no wonder that fire departments are
actively looking for improved ways to meet their
financial needs. Most suburban departments are
using outdated equipment and apparatus that’s 10
- 25 years old. It’s not uncommon that
firefighters in small towns arrive on scene with
a truck that is so outdated it barely passes
pump tests. It’s also commonplace that in urban
areas firefighters don’t have enough portable
radios, SCBA gear, and would prefer to have
thermal imaging camera to help find bodies.
Add HAZMAT and biochemical agents that these
first responders must face, and the demands on
these departments multiply. It’s a fact: the
majority of town budgets don’t provide enough
funding for the basics. Furthermore, DHS has
recently changed their scope of awarding fire
grants to only those departments that qualify
based on their risk assessments. Meaning that
DHS asks what risks does that geographic area
face to natural or manmade disasters? Is their
request justified or should the money go to
another department?
Though the need to better audit the grant
program is necessary, many in the fire service
feel slighted, stating wealthy departments are
getting funding while needy departments are
struggling to cover the fundamentals.
Some departments have begun to adopt fire
billing as a way to offset the costs of
equipment, supplies and manpower. The program
allows departments to bill for fire suppression,
motor vehicle accidents, HAZMAT incidents and
service calls. Though this program is still
unregulated and is a new concept to states east
of Mississippi (the west coast has been billing
for years), the program is catching on and is
supplying additional revenue that departments
would not have otherwise.
It is understandable that some departments are
hesitant to start billing for services because
they think they shouldn’t - residents pay for
their services as part of their taxes. However,
taxpayers pay for the readiness of the service,
not for the upkeep, operational costs, training,
and all the rest of the day to day issues. Once
fire departments and the community understand
this, then learning the fundamentals of the
program is next.
First, billing for certain kinds of incidents
will not raise a property owner’s insurance
premiums.
In fact, most property owners have been paying a
rider for years without - luckily - having to
submit a claim. Insurance companies have been
collecting those premiums for years. and when
this is explained to the insurance adjuster,
paying $1,000 to a fire department after they
have just saved a $350,000 home from burning to
ashes is a small investment.
Second, submitting a claim to a property owners’
insurance company isn’t like submitting a claim
to an auto carrier. Premiums won’t go up as
often the case of a driver who has received 2
speeding tickets and got in an accident. Home
owners insurance doesn’t work that way. Will the
insurance company ask for more detail to support
the claim? Absolutely. Will some insurance
companies deny the claim outright? Absolutely.
There is no guarantee that every claim will get
paid. But not why try to recoup money that could
help the departments – money that surely
property owners would rather see go to the fire
department rather than stay in the pockets of
the insurance company?
Thirdly, fire departments can set their own fees
for service. But this doesn’t mean that whatever
they decide to charge they’ll actually collect.
In fact, it’s estimated that 50% of the claims
will be denied or the calls themselves will lack
the needed information that an insurance company
expects. For a billing service to overstate the
amount that can be collected is doing a
disservice to the fire department and to
themselves.
If fire departments consider themselves as a
service provider, similar to towing services
that bill for their time, fire departments could
be enjoying some additional funding. Why
shouldn’t a fire department bill for a flipped
over tanker on I95 that exhausted a HAZMAT team,
all sorts of fire apparatus and rescue vehicles?
How will they recoup for that time and replace
supplies?
What was once taboo is now reality. Fire
departments in CT and MD have seen success with
the program, proving it’s a viable resource
that’s filling the financial void that FIRE ACT
has yet to. |
