From Harford County government:
The Department of Emergency Services has announced that enhancements and improvements have been made in data collection efforts between Harford County Government and the county’s volunteer fire and EMS services. Data is now being collected in a uniform manner from all 12 independent fire and EMS companies using the Records Management System (RMS) software application purchased by Harford County Government.
The RMS data collection program is a joint partnership between Harford County Government, specifically the Office of Information and Communications Technology and the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association. The project began nearly a year ago. The Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company was the last department to go “live” using the RMS system as they waited for the Office of Information and Communications Technology to complete the installation of the long-awaited HMAN fiber to the new Patterson Mill substation.
“The new RMS software application will help improve data collection efforts of our local volunteer fire and EMS service, which will ultimately enhance the quality of data collected and used by Harford County Government in assessing the capabilities and needs of our fire and EMS service,” said County Executive David R. Craig. “I commend Director Russell J. Strickland of the Department of Emergency Services for working in partnership with President William Dousa of the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association, as well as each of our fire and rescue departments to achieve this important milestone,” Craig remarked.
The “Red Alert” Record Management System from Alpine Software Corporation was purchased by Harford County Government for the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association, the County Departments of Emergency Services and the Treasury. The countywide RMS system will cut costs across all fire and EMS departments by having one RMS system, centrally managed and supported by the Harford County Office of Information and Communications Technology. The overall RMS project will be phased in over a three year period.
The total cost of the system to date is $304,104. Additionally the system is supported on an annual basis by an independent contractor at a cost of approximately $70,000, which includes installation, technical support and training.
The RMS system went “live” on January 2, 2013 with the Whiteford Volunteer Fire Company, Aberdeen Fire Department and Harford County HazMat as pilot sites. Since January, all other companies throughout the county have gone on-line with the Red Alert RMS software program as well.
Commenting on the joint software information management program, William Dousa, President of the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association said, “This has been an outstanding cooperative project between the fire companies, the Association and the County. Consolidating the fire service records management system will provide everyone a better understanding of our service to the citizens and define future needs. The County’s appointment of an experienced company member as the Harford County Fire and EMS RMS Project Manager has provided both unity for all involved as well as 24/7 support to resolve system issues as soon as they develop.”
The Red Alert RMS system will help serve approximately 1,700 volunteer fire and EMS providers, to include Active, Probationary, Lifetime, or those on military leave for duty. Additionally the system will also serve approximately 181 paid EMS personnel throughout the county and another 23 HazMat response personnel.
The Department of Emergency Services is working with the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association to determine future plans for the RMS system for Phases II and III.
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