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March 10, 2003 – Today,
REMSA (Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority) a leading high
performance emergency medical system (EMS)
will become the third agency in the world to implement the FirstWatch™ early
warning biosurveillance system. The FirstWatch™ system uses cutting
edge technology and real—time information pulled from 9-1-1 calls
to detect trends indicating the possible outbreak of disease, illness
or patterns of injury either from natural causes or possible acts of
terrorisim. 
FirstWatch™ is an early-warning system that alerts communities to a potential bioterrorist attack. FirstWatch™ works 24 hours a day, seven days a week, silently monitoring all incoming 9-1-1 calls into the emergency communications center. It compares the symptoms and complaints reported by patients to historical data and to symptoms identified with specified events such as smallpox, anthrax or other agents that might be used by terrorists. When a significant trend spike occurs, the system automatically alerts public safety officials via pager, on screen computer, e-mail, or by printed or faxed reports.
“REMSA’s implementation of FirstWatch™ is another milestone for our region,” said Patrick Smith, President of REMSA, who also serves as the Chairman of the Management Training Institute for the American Ambulance Association. “REMSA strives to be known as an organization focused on quality patient care through innovation and excellence. The installation of the FirstWatch™ early warning biosurveillance system is yet another demonstration of REMSA’s continued commitment.”
The FirstWatch™ system has several features, which include Complete Control; MapShot Spatial Call Analysis and Reporting; Graphit and Log Reporting; and Centralized Data Network. The Complete Control feature allows public safety agencies to specify what criteria to monitor. It adjusts the sensitivity volume and determines what actions to take and how it will communicate the alert via e-mail, fax or pages. The MapShot Spatial Call Analysis and Reporting has an integrated GIS (Global Information System) in the FirstWatch™ system. It stores, retrieves and manipulates the data in such a way that events can be displayed instantaneously on local and regional maps. This technology can quickly pinpoint hot spot activity or unusual patient cluster activity.
Included in the FirstWatch™ system is an array of graphs and detailed logs and reports that identify alert incidents and calls that trigger the alarm, which is called the Graphit and Log Reporting. The Graphit report takes incoming call information, breaks it down into categories, then compiles the types of calls into pie chart summaries to identify major trends and patterns. The Centralized Data Network uses patent pending data shuttle technology and encrypts the agency’s information and sends it via a secure connection to the FirstWatch™ server. There the information is secure and available for the agency to view on a web browser to monitor geographic service areas.
FirstWatch™ is a product of Stout Solutions, a nationally recognized leading supplier of custom reports and software to the emergency dispatch community. Its clients include many of the leading emergency dispatch communication centers inside the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Stout Solutions developed the early prototype of the product for use in Kansas City, Missouri in 1999. There it was monitored and alerted any abnormalities for the population of Kansas City against the symptom patterns found from a biological agent release.
"In a bioterrorist attack, the best defense is early detection, no question about it," said Todd Stout, President of Stout Solutions, LLC, and inventor of FirstWatch™. "A stealth attack can take days or even weeks to become apparent, and by that time a lot of people have become afflicted. FirstWatch™ is a way for public safety and public health officials to recognize a potential bioterrorist attack in the early stages, giving them time to take action and save lives."
REMSA is recognized internationally as one of the premier EMS providers in the nation. REMSA has a fleet of 26 paramedic equipped ambulances in addition to a critical care ambulance. REMSA responds to approximately 38,000 calls per year.
REMSA is a private, not-for-profit emergency medical services system serving northern Nevada and northern California. REMSA’s state of the art 9-1-1 dispatch communications center is internationally accredited, as are all emergency medical transport services of the company. REMSA provides quality patient care with no taxpayer support or other subsidies.
450 Edison Way 
Reno,
Nevada 89502 (775)858-5700 Fax
(775)858-5720
Schwartz