ReddiNet is a flexible emergency medical communications network
that links hospitals, EMS agencies, paramedics, dispatch centers,
law enforcement, public health departments and other health care
system participants within local and regional communities. From
its humble beginnings as a voice radio system 25 years ago to its
current fifth generation software, ReddiNet has indeed had a
strong impact on emergency medical communications over the last
quarter century.
ReddiNet has been my professional life for the last 15 years. So
I’ve witnessed an incredible evolution in emergency
communications. It is rewarding to see how our community embraced
advancements in emergency management and technology. But, as
advanced as we are, we can take technology for granted. Living in
a region always on alert for natural disasters like earthquakes
or wild fires, you stay prepared with all available
technology—from the basic HEAR voice radio to the most advanced
satellite systems. Because you never know—”low tech” could just
be your lifeline!
I love the durability of ReddiNet. It is a fixture in so
many Emergency Departments and Dispatch Centers. And I
really like that I get to be its champion. Most development
teams hand off their product and move on. Not us. We stay with
the product. We nurture it and facilitate its evolution.
For me, it is powerful to see us converge the social
mission—to save lives—with a technology mission—to optimize
information sharing. ReddiNet has history and character. People
depend on it. That is a wonderful legacy to have.
Before I came to ReddiNet, I thought I had the best job
ever—working with astronauts. It was exciting and meaningful. But
when I joined ReddiNet, it became my best job ever. When I think
about our nurses and paramedics—what they do, who they help—I
understand what is on the line every time I get a call for help.
It is not about fixing hardware or software, it is about
someone’s life. The mission is so close to my heart. I feel their
need; I feel their intensity. I want them to do their job well. I
want to be there for them, always.
I just finished training a new region. I always
encourage them to “think outside of the box” to get the most
out of ReddiNet. Not long after I trained, a snake bite
patient walked in to an Emergency Department. There
wasn’t enough anti-venom in the hospital, but they didn’t have
time to call around. One of my students got on ReddiNet and
blasted out a four-county request for the anti-venom. Within
minutes, a delivery was on its way. I loved it! This is the
power of the health care community sharing information.
ReddiNet® Emergency Medical Communications system took shape in
the early 1970s in response to the immediate needs of emergency
workers during a real disaster. Since that time, our original
philosophies and founding principles have not changed. ReddiNet’s
emergency medical communications system remains exceptionally
committed to you—first responders, emergency workers, medical
personnel—and your patients.
For 25 years, ReddiNet has helped save lives—in mass disasters and in everyday first response. From our origins as a visionary voice radio emergency system developed in 1970, to the launch of our computer-based system in 1986, patient care and safety have always been our mission.
