The last Thursday of the month at 7:30 PM, the Medical Communications Team (MCT) Net is called on the 146.9 MHz repeater. This is a directed net, which means that the Net Control Operator is in control of the airwaves and directs who can call in.

The EMC Net assures that trained amateur radio operators are ready to assist in time of need and are familiar with the hospitals and their exact equipment, entrance procedures, capabilities, and limitations.

Mission

Support communications for a medical facility providing emergency communications that are critical to patient health and facility welfare.

ARPSC MCT Net

• During the net, the amateur operator should also check for any mechanical or electrical defects, and let the Net Operator know exactly what the problem is, missing equipment such as Station Manual, radio laminated instructions, signs of tampering or physical damage to equipment.
  
  
• Station operators are to use the medical facilities name i.e. Huron Valley, Commerce. This is a tactical call sign as it describes FACILITY and LOCATION. When ending each transmission the operator's call sign is required. This serves 2 important functions:
  
  It tells the Net Control Station your transmission is complete
  It fulfills FCC requirements
  
  
• The MCT Net is a directed net by the Net Control Operator. Participating hospitals and emergency operations centers report in via roll call from Net Control Operators. Net Control will provide directions for different operating modes as needed. Net Control will provide the State, County, or Municipality EMC Coordinator with a written report of results from the Hospital Net.
  
  

Procedures

• The governing EOC (County, Districts or State ARPSC) is directed to activate a controlled net at least once a month to do a roll call of medical facilities equipped with radios. This net is required to operate from the governing EOC quarterly.
  
  
• The governing EOC contact, the ARPSC EC, or the State, County, or Municipality Hospital Coordinator will send out an email to the facilities staff contact as a reminder to expect the ARHEC operators for the volunteers' monthly net.
  
  
• MCT Net radio operators will report to their designated hospital before the scheduled net time and inspect the station's connections using the laminated instruction card attached to the radio or in the station binder to insure that all wires and cables are installed correctly before activating the station.
  
  

Why Call a Net each Month?

Our primary mission is to provide essential emergency communications in the event of a failure of existing public safety systems or in times where the magnitude of an event may overwhelm the capacity of traditional communication platforms. In order to be ready to perform this function practice and proficiency are essential.

Each month the net operator practices in managing structured communications, taking down the tactical and call signs, dynamically reacting to incomplete of unintelligible communications and practices the essential skills of multi-tasking in a time sensitive environment. Participants become familiar to hospital personnel, gain practice in using the equipment, and make sure that each hospital's equipment is properly functioning.

Area hospitals with permanent radio installations served by the Oakland County Amateur Radio Public Service Corps include the following:

• Ascension Genesys Hospital - Grand Blanc
• Ascension Macomb Oakland Hosp - Madison Hts
• Ascension Providence Hospital - Novi
• Ascension Providence Hospital - Southfield
• Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital
• Corewell - Farmington Hills Hospital
• Corewell - Royal Oak Hospital
• Corewell - Troy Hospital
• DMC Huron Valley - Sinai Hospital
• Henry Ford Medical Center - West Bloomfield
• McLaren - Clarkston
• McLaren - Pontiac
• Trinity Health Oakland - Pontiac

If you are interested in participating, contact the Specialty Officer-Emergency Medical Communications Coordinator to arrange training or to find out more.