County explores voice-over-IP paging, app and radio upgrades to improve EMS dispatch

Winnebago County officials and emergency-services representatives discussed options to improve paging and radio notification for EMS and volunteer fire departments, including a voice-over-IP paging interface that can integrate with pagers and a cell-phone app and station-alerting hardware.

An agency presenter described how an automated dispatch interface can watch dispatcher entries and then trigger voice-over-IP pages, pagers and mobile-app notifications simultaneously. "The computer dispatches it and does the voice over IP stuff where it reads the call for service and pages voice pages the ambulance over the pagers and sends out the Bricks notification all at the same time," the presenter said.

Discussion focused on coverage limitations, single-band versus dual-band radios, pager reliability, the need for redundant systems and annual maintenance costs. Board members and chiefs emphasized that while newer systems can improve speed and automation, no single solution is 100% reliable and the county should plan redundancies. The presenter noted station-alerting hardware and per-station equipment that may fall on the receiving agency and an annual maintenance/tech-support estimate in the quote.

Participants identified potential funding paths including grant writing (county EMS or a nonprofit partner could apply), private donations and local foundations. County staff recommended a follow-up meeting with the 9-1-1 commission, fire chiefs and dispatch/communications staff to review vendor demos, confirm frequencies, define station-alerting needs and outline cost-sharing arrangements. The group suggested the nature center as a likely meeting site and aimed to convene within weeks.

No motion to purchase was recorded; the board asked staff to gather additional quotes and bring representatives from dispatch and the 9-1-1 commission to a dedicated meeting to scope choices and funding.