Amateur Radio at Allied Health Facilities

Amateur radio can be used to augment existing communications capacity during heavy activity or can be used as an auxilliary communication mode when the "normal" communications channels have failed or are degraded. This can occur due to natural disasters, such as fire, flood, earthquake, or man-made situations, such as cyber or infrastructure attacks, or simple equipment failures or equipment configuration errors.

Amateur radio can provide an auxilliary communications capability that is not dependent on any other commercial or private system. Procedures specific to the needs of Allied Health agencies are currently under development. Anticipated communications paths included:

• Allied Health to Local Jurisdiction EOC Communications
  • Primary support for Allied Health agencies comes from the local jurisdiction EOC
• Allied Health to Public Health Department Operations Center (PHDOC)
  • In some specific cases, some Allied Health agencies may need to communicate directly with the PHDOC
• Allied Health to Allied Health Communications
  • Allied Health agencies can coordinate response to surges and evacuations with other, similar agencies
• Hospital to Allied Health Communications
  • Hospitals may need to initiate communications with Allied Health agencies for surge events.
• Health and Welfare
  • Those working extended assignments can let family members know that they're OK.

See our Getting Started page for information on suggested personnel priorities

• Requesting Operators
  • Facilities in need of (additional) operators can request them through their local jurisdiction's EOC.
  • The local jurisdiction's Emergency Management team will coordinate with the local amateur radio leader to determine availability and priority.
  • The local jurisdiction EOC may also request amateur radio mutual aid from the county EOC, if necessary.
• Credentialing
  • Credentialing provides a way for allied health facilities to know that the amateur radio operator has the necessary knowledge and ability to properly serve the needs of the facility.
  • Minimum credentials:
    • Allied Health facilities should request that all amateur radio operators sent to their facility possess at least a Type IV Communicator credential.
• Amateur Radio Licensing
  • Having trained operators already on site can be a huge advantage when resources at the city level are stretched thin.
  • Allied health personnel interested in becoming licensed amateur radio operators can attend one- or two-day "ham crams" which prepare them for and administer the FCC exam.

See our Getting Started page for information on suggested equipment priorities

See our Allied Health Amateur Radio Equipment page for complete information about constructing an amateur radio station at an Allied Health facility.