Massachusetts CMED Network


2013 Statewide CMED Radio Plan (PDF File)

Channel CMED / Hosp Freq. Ambulance Frequency
CMED 1-N 463.0000 468.0000
CMED 2-N 463.0250 468.0250
CMED 3-N 463.0500 468.0500
CMED 4-N 463.0750 468.0750
CMED 5-N 463.1000 468.1000
CMED 6-N 463.1250 468.1250
CMED 7-N 463.1500 468.1500
CMED 8-N 463.1750 468.1750
CMED 9-N 462.9500 467.9500
CMED 10-N 462.9750 467.9750
CMED 12 463.0125 468.0125
CMED 22 463.0375 468.0375
CMED 32 463.0625 468.0625
CMED 42 463.0875 468.0875
CMED 52 463.1125 468.1125
CMED 62 463.1375 468.1375
CMED 72 463.1625 468.1625
CMED 82 463.1875 468.1875
CMED 92 462.9625 467.9625
CMED 102 462.9875 467.9875
     
CMED Region / PL Tone  
Springfield CMED Region 1 - 100.0  
Worcester CMED Region 2 - 110.9  
Northeast CMED Region 3 - 123.0  
Boston CMED Region 4 - 136.5  
Plymouth CMED Region 5 - 103.5  
Bristol CMED Region 5 - 127.3  
Barnstable CMED Region 5 - 114.8  

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is divided into five separate Emergency Medical Services Regions. Each region is responsible for overseeing the pre-hospital-to-hospital communications system in their particular area and operating a CMED (Centralized Emergency Medical Dispatch) center.

The CMED center acts as the switchboard for ambulances connecting to hospitals throughout the state. The Center plays a major role in resource management and patient distribution in the event of a major incident.

Plymouth CMED provides services for the Southeastern Massachusetts (EMS Region 5). The system services over 40 fire department, municipal and private ambulance services. The cities and towns provided with coverage are located in the Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol and Norfolk counties.

When an emergency medical technician or paramedic on the scene of an emergency wishes to communicate with a hospital, they contact Plymouth CMED and here's how it works:

An ambulance calls via a two-way radio to Plymouth CMED.

The CMED operator will ascertain the calling unit's identification, hospital of choice and geographic location (location is important because there are four transmission towers used in Region 5, and the closest tower to the requesting ambulance is patched to ensure clear transmissions).

Ambulances advise CMED of a "priority" so multiple patches can be done according to urgency (priority codes are 1 - 4 with 1 reserved for severe injuries... descending down to 4, reserved for minor injuries).

Via a Motorola radio console, the CMED operator connects the ambulance to the hospital by a combination of two-way radio frequencies and dedicated phone circuits. Plymouth CMED controls ambulance traffic to Brockton, Good Samaritan, Jordan, Morton and South Shore Hospital.

The CMED operator will initiate a tone signal that alerts the hospital staff of an incoming call. The staff at the hospital will then communicate with the ambulance and when communications are complete, the CMED operator will unlink the hospital and ambulance.