Why FRED?

In after-action reports or critiques of responses to major incidents or mass casualty exercises, communication is the most frequently cited problem or failure under the topic of operations. Currently, distribution of information and gathering of required data is accomplished through serial faxes, telephone calls, and radio transmissions, which can take 45-90 minutes to complete.

In response to the urgent need, MIEMSS (Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems) contracted with a network software vendor to replace a system of hand-entered spreadsheets with a system that can be managed via the worldwide web. FRED will replace those cumbersome and time-consuming tasks of information management. The Pennsylvania Department of Health has reviewed FRED and recognized the enhancement FRED will make to the Emergency Medical Service system of Pennsylvania.

It is expected that FRED will not increase the administrative burden on those attempting to manage the care of patients, but relieve existing tasks associated with that administration. Those users of FRED will receive a loud audible signal that an alert has been issued. They will be able to read the alert information and input any requested data into a series of entry screens. Once entered, that data will appear and be calculated on central spreadsheets, which will be available to those who require the information.

Hospitals, law enforcement agencies, state and local emergency management agencies and health departments, fire and rescue companies and dispatch centers and information centers such as the Poison Center will all have a major resource at their hands with FRED. Information can be shared with all components quickly and simultaneously and the status of resources can be cataloged efficiently. The system will be reliable, as it will reside on two servers at MIEMSS and Pennsylvania Department of Health. There will be limited access to the global broadcast capabilities to ensure information that is disseminated is correct. FRED will become the primary means of shared information management for emergency response and management organizations in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

To access FRED and more project information, click here: FRED