The Coalition works with organizations to ensure that redundant communications and systems are in place in advance of an event. Coalition participants implement these systems at their facilities and test them on a schedule.
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Redundant communications may include, but are not limited to:
- WATrac, Washington state’s web-based healthcare incident management system
- Web conferencing
- Basic telephone systems
- Cell phones
- Text messaging
- Beepers and pocket pagers
- Voice over Internet Protocol systems
- Fax machines
- Emergency desktop and mobile handheld programmed radios
- 800 MHz radios
- Ham radio systems
- HEAR radios
- Communication systems for the deaf and hearing impaired
- Overhead announcement and paging systems
- Nurse call system
- Human runners, if other forms fail
Establishing Priority Access
Emergencies and disasters can cripple the telephone services of our region. Many programs exist to ensure that your healthcare organization’s calls go through.
GETS –Government Emergency Telecommunications Service
A federal service that that provides priority access to the switches that route telephone calls.
WPS – Wireless Priority Service
A federal service that provides priority access to cellular towers that route cell phone calls.
GETS/WPS FAQ
TSP – Telecommunications Service Priority
A federal service that provides priority for restoring telecommunication services.
TSP Overview
Stay Connected Via WATrac
King County uses Washington’s online healthcare incident management system, WATrac, to track resources and facilitate communication among partners. Public Health – Seattle & King County uses WATrac to send alerts when Health and Medical Area Command is activated for an emergency response.