Mobil+Communications+and+Coordination+Center+-+MC3

Mobil Communications and Coordination Center - MC3 Edited 11/20/11 Coleman
__**Description:**__ During a catastrophic event such as a Hurricane or Earthquake health information Exchange was non-existent. This became very apparent during Katrina with paper records floating down the road or flying in the wind. This mobile command center can go to the scene of the catastrophe and assist patients and Dr.s during these times with medical records exchange. It was developed in NC because, this state also deals with Hurricanes every year and NC didn't want to be in the same position as LA during a weather crisis.

It hasn't been used in an actual emergency as of yet but, it is ready should one present itself. Right now it is primarily used for emergency training drills. It could be used in a national emergency, war time or during a weather crisis.

__**Applications:**__ Mobile communications represents an important and growing segment of medical technology, which is one reason IBM was particularly interested in working with WakeMed on the project, said Melissa O'Neal, an IBM sales representative who handles the WakeMed account The MC3 is designed to basically allow you command of communications over large geographic areas, of multiple frequencies, an unlimited number of agencies and healthcare providers, and really have global communications from wherever that vehicle is set up," says Bill Atkinson, PhD, the Raleigh, NC, health system's president and CEO.

The 870-licensed-bed health system decided to develop the mobile communications unit after examining experiences of personnel sent to help in the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. Atkinson says one of the major problems aid workers faced was the inability to tie together communication between the government, healthcare workers, and volunteer organizations. The MC3 is WakeMed's solution. "North Carolina is one of those frequent states to deal with hurricanes, and I think in North Carolina it's not a question of will it be used, it's simply a matter of when will it be used," Atkinson says. __**MC3 in the news**__

An emergency drill that forced WakeMed employees to transfer dozens of critically ill "patients" across town Monday taught the area's largest medical provider a couple of lessons. First, it is possible to move people out of intensive care and over to Rex Hospital after a tornado, even if it means carrying patients down stairwells to do it. Second, it's a whole lot easier with the right technology. WakeMed revealed its newest piece of gadgetry Monday when it rolled out the first communications command center designed specifically for hospitals. Valued at more than $500,000, the truck is the product of months of work among the hospital, Cisco, IBM, Lenovo and others. The companies helped pay for the center with equipment donations and technical help to complement federal funds. The truck was built by LDV of Burlington, Wis.

"There are thousands of mobile command centers in the U.S. for police, fire and military use," said WakeMed CEO Bill Atkinson. "But there is nothing else in the country like this center." WakeMed Health & Hospitals recently added a new vehicle to its emergency response fleet. But it is anything but a standard ambulance. The vehicle is 40 feet long and is equipped with 10 computers, wireless Internet, four satellite televisions, five surveillance cameras, six work areas, a conference room, a kitchen, and the capability to support 254 phones. WakeMed calls it the Mobile Communications and Coordination Center, or MC3 for short.
 * A North Carolina system's new 40-foot mobile communications vehicle can link healthcare, government, and volunteer organizations during a disaster.**

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WakeMed Mobile Command Center Disaster Drills