VMED28 (Formerly HEAR)

The original purpose for this system was to provide voice communication to hospital administrative staff. It was meant as a tool to be used only during emergencies. Over the years with the increased stress caused by hospital closures and emergency department overcrowding, the use of VMED28 was expanded to include notification to field units as to the availability of the emergency departments. As other medical communication needs were identified the use of VMED28 was the natural solution.

The medical band that includes VMED28 (155.340.156.7) is available for licensing nationwide for use by medical personnel. For this reason LACOEMS has designated VMED28 as their interoperability voice channel for incoming medical resources.

Using 12 remote transceivers in selected high elevation radio sites and a automatic voter VMED28 Remote sites Map, EMS has expanded coverage of VMED28 to the majority of Los Angeles County. There still exist some canyons and shadow areas that due to sparse population would be cost prohibitive to attempt to cover.

The key to effective communication using VMED28 is the Medical Alert Center (MAC). MAC, a 24/7 communication center operated by LACOEMS, provides communication monitoring, provides relay information to hospitals, and would be the primary notification center for any events requiring medical resources outside the normal operating channels. Along with the Central Dispatch Office (CDO) MAC is part of the Coordinated Communications Center for the Health Services.

In addition to building out the VHF channel by installing remote transceivers at strategic “high” sites”, LACOEMS participates in the Los Angeles Regional Tactical Communication System LARTCS as a means to provide medical communications to agencies who do not maintain VMED28.

Narrow Banding

On November 19, 2012, EMS completed the migration of all VMED28 remote radios sites and County Operated Hospitals from wide band to narrow band and changed the designation, Hospital Emergency Administrative Radio (HEAR) to VMED28. This step is being taken in order to comply with the Association of Public Safety Communication Officers (APCO) and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Standard Channel Nomenclature for the Public Safety Interoperability Channels. THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN OPERATIONS.

For more information please contact (562) 378-1629