In summary:
- The Mobile Medical Response Unit (MMRU) is a medical platform staffed by trained individuals that can use its features to help stabilize patients before transport and its communications facilities to stay in contact with medical facilities in the area.
- The MMRU accommodates agency diagnostic and triage equipment and efforts and can help coordinate evacuation alongside emergency medical units as a part of a larger suite of mobile healthcare solutions.
- Our high-quality voice, data, and video facilities allow vehicles utilized as MMRUs to support medical response services by enabling faster collaboration.
With fast setup and coordination essential in an emergency, Mobile Medical Response Units can offer a range of emergency care advancements to keep teams synchronized in the field.
The latest medical response innovations ensure that organizations in need of MMRUs receive units with extensive interoperability, so people across the country can connect and act as a single force. We even offer several different unit options as a part of a whole fleet, from our mobile command centers to small, portable kits, to handle problems of any size.
However, it’s essential to understand the nuances that set MMRUs apart from other options in this area.
What Is a Mobile Medical Response Unit?
The Mobile Medical Response Unit (MMRU) is a deployable asset focused on both clinical management and coordination of a larger group of assets, enabling on-scene care and command aligned with ESF-8 roles. Core elements of what make something an MMRU include:
- Rapid setup capabilities
- Global-capable communications backbones
- Climate control
- On-scene clinical capabilities
- Divider curtains
- Connectivity support
- Power and shelter facilities
- HAZMAT units with water filtration
- Secure data links
- Situational awareness tools
- Rapid-inflate shelters
- Refrigeration units for temporary morgues
At CCS, when we design such units, we focus on communications as the first step in a larger upgrade process. As such, those using our mobile command centers or other vehicles as MMRUs can communicate using the vehicle as a backup link to maintain communications when local networks no longer function.
While Comprehensive Communications Services (CCS) does not yet offer a dedicated MMRU entry on our website, as an industry leader, we have leveraged our capabilities to provide customized MERC units as MMRUs to act as medical checkpoints.
Our full range of options for the MERC includes all the latest technology required to assemble one. However, individual agencies must provide specific clinical equipment.
How Can You Improve Emergency Response with a CCS MMRU?
As communication technology experts, we have built units capable of providing uplinks to various primary networks in an area, including satellite systems when local networks are unavailable. At the same time, our vehicles use mobile radio for mission-critical communication. Our units are thus capable of interoperability, as documented in CISA’s field operations guides, even when data is unavailable for extended periods.
At the same time, we can reinforce local power with generators, batteries, and even shore power to adjacent assets.
Our assets can help you set up Mutualink incident rooms for clear communication with other groups worldwide, enabling device-to-device or agency-to-agency collaboration.
Deployment Models
We are aware that there are dozens of situations in which an MMRU would benefit an agency. As such, we can discuss with you the nuances of what you might want to use an asset like this for.
Examples of scenarios you may want to consider include:
- Rural disease surge
- Continuity of agency operation during mass gatherings
- Wildfire disaster sheltering
- Hurricane and flood evacuation organization
- Perimeter control
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Mobile Medical Response Unit Have Another Name?
In some situations, an MMRU might go by several names depending on its purpose and whether specific people are using it:
- Mobile medical unit (MMU)
- Field clinic
- Medical ops tent
- Medical branch of a command post
- Surge clinic
- Medical tent
In some situations, such as in public health, groups may refer to these as “Alternate Care Sites” (ACS). However, this term requires specific guidance for use, as it is distinct from what CCS provides.
Ultimately, in many contexts, including procurement documents, agencies refer to it by what they use it for rather than by the specific asset we would describe it as.
What Does MMR Mean on an Ambulance and How Is It Different?
MMR is often an abbreviation for “Mobile medical response”. It refers to the transport of individuals in a medical context, whereas the MMRU focuses on stabilizing them in place.
They generally serve very different purposes, with an MMRU often acting as a center of organization. In contrast, the MMR is simply an emergency response service or vehicle.
It is also important to note that, in locations like Michigan, Mobile Medical Response is the name of a specific provider.
Is This a Mobile ER?
No. If people use this term, they do so informally.
An official ER is a larger vehicle, operated by the hospital as an asset to provide higher-quality care in the field. These vehicles often support disasters and special events, much like an MMRU, but are more akin to field hospitals. As such, depending on their specific purpose, they may contain advanced diagnostic equipment.
What Are the Challenges for Mobile Medical Clinics?
Some of the most recent updates to data privacy and cybersecurity have posed challenges for networking across the country and beyond. As our systems integrate with hospital networks and ePCR platforms, it is more crucial than ever to develop robust security measures.
We have paid attention to this area of evolving technology. As such, we consistently work to provide clients with assets that leverage the latest cybersecurity technologies we develop, as discussed in our mobile technology update blog.
Source a Field-Ready MMRU for Your Time of Need
With a communications-led design that supports its medical efforts, our mobile medical response units can continue to operate even when local networks are no longer viable. We also ensure you can set up the assets we develop quickly and connect them to a full suite of communication channels as soon as they hit the field.
To learn more about what we offer at Comprehensive Communication Services, and how we support everything from small tactical networks to wide-ranging emergency response, check out our offerings. Alternatively, contact us today to learn what we can supply to your agency moving forward.