AIMS

The Alabama Incident Management System (AIMS) is a computer software program that allows the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) to monitor hospitals, nursing homes, and ambulance resources during times of disasters. If an emergency situation occurs that warrants the standing up State Incident Command System, an ambulance provider service may go to the AIMS website and post their available resources. A provider service will simply log on and post to the website their available ambulances and crews to respond to the disaster area. No one can view this information except ADPH.

ADPH, in conjunction with the Governor’s Office and State Emergency Management Agency requests, will use this data to dispatch provider service ambulances. Any provider service ambulance responding without going through this process will not be eligible for reimbursement or liability protection through the Volunteer Service Act.

Coordinated Deployment Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

The Coordinated Deployment MOU can be found on the Licensure Information page. It must be signed by the provider service who wishes to participate. This is not a binding contract. Any agency participating in the AIMS is doing so on a volunteer basis and at any time may determine not to participate by simply not using the software.

After the provider service signs a Coordinated Deployment MOU and mails it in to the Office of EMS, a login and password will be sent that will enable the provider service to login and create a user account. Other instructions will be included.

The Medical Needs Shelter MOU

The Office of EMS has been requested by the Center for Emergency Preparedness to assist in staffing medical needs shelters if they are created in the event of an emergency or disaster. There are currently 16 designated facilities in Alabama that will be staffed by nurses and physicians to care for displaced patients with medical needs. An Advanced Life Support ambulance crew will be requested by this office to standby 24/7 if a medical needs shelter is designated as “stood-up”. The responsibilities of this crew is to provide emergency care for any emergency that occurs at a medical needs shelter and if required, transport the patient to the nearest, appropriate medical facility.

Like the AIMS Memorandum of Understanding, signing the Medical Needs Shelter MOU, which can be found on the Licensure Information page, is not a binding contract. It only provides the Office of EMS with a ready resource plan if a disaster occurs.

Again, ADPH will do all that is possible to assist a volunteering participant in their efforts for reimbursement.