Communication in Rural Minnesota

Minnesota Snowdrift

Emergency Planning Improve Communication Capability in Our Regions

How to Link Local Health Departments Local Health Departments Tribal Health Agencies Tribal Health Agencies Hospitals Hospitals EMS Agencies EMS Agencies Rural Clinics Rural Clinics County EOC’s County EOC’s

Northwest Minnesota 13 Counties 13 Counties 3 Indian Nations 3 Indian Nations 11 Local Health Departments 11 Local Health Departments 15 Hospitals 15 Hospitals 21 EMS Agencies 21 EMS Agencies 3 Clinic Networks and Private Clinics 3 Clinic Networks and Private Clinics

NW LHD’s and Hospitals

Communication Options Telephones Telephones Cell Phones Cell Phones Internet ( ) Internet ( ) Radios Radios –VHF, Ham, 800 MHZ, UHF, low band Sat Phones Sat Phones

How to Communicate When There is no electricity There is no electricity Telephone landlines are down Telephone landlines are down Cell phones are all busy Cell phones are all busy The internet is down The internet is down

Obstacles Distance and Topography Distance and Topography Weather Weather Outdated equipment Outdated equipment Technical Knowledge Technical Knowledge Line A (Canadian Border) Line A (Canadian Border) Money Money

Critical Decisions Use Hospitals as the Communication Backbone Use Hospitals as the Communication Backbone Upgrade Hospital System Upgrade Hospital System Use VHF for Other Health Organizations Use VHF for Other Health Organizations

Objectives Link the health system via radios Link the health system via radios Each hospital to communicate with 2 other hospitals Each hospital to communicate with 2 other hospitals Compliance with FCC narrow band regulations Compliance with FCC narrow band regulations Dual use Dual use

Survey Equipment Equipment –Base Stations –Cabling –Antennas Coverage Areas Coverage Areas Interoperability Issues Interoperability Issues FCC Compliance for the Future FCC Compliance for the Future –Wide Band vs Narrow Band

Coverage Maps

NW LHD’s and Hospitals

Coverage Circles

Hospital Path Study-Bemidji

NW LHD’s and Hospitals

Coverage Circles

Path Study-Roseau

Actions To Date Purchased base stations, antennas, cabling for hospitals Purchased base stations, antennas, cabling for hospitals Radios for EMS providers Radios for EMS providers Radios for remote clinics (>20 miles from nearest hospital) Radios for remote clinics (>20 miles from nearest hospital) Radios for LHD’s Radios for LHD’s HAM radios and antennas HAM radios and antennas

Yet to be Done Possible Repeater(s) in the north Possible Repeater(s) in the north Higher Towers in the north Higher Towers in the north More Radios for LHD’s More Radios for LHD’s Training, training, training Training, training, training Drills, drills, drills Drills, drills, drills