Frequently Asked Questions

IS MY DATA SECURE?

Data security is top priority for Medic52.

In Medic52 Team, you control which information is accessible to which groups as you choose. For example, if a telephone number is accessible to the public, such as dispatch or guest services, you can set it as such. Otherwise, patrol-internal information is accessible only by members of your patrol. Simply, rather than being in a three-ring binder out-of-date at home, the information is always in the patroller’s pocket.

In Medic52 Cases, patient identifiable information such as stored photos and witness statements can not be accessed from outside the application. And should a device be lost or stolen, Medic52 is able to remotely delete the data.

All communications with Medic52 servers over the internet are completed over a 256-bit TLS 1.2, industry certified secure connection. Once on the servers, patient identifiable information is encrypted (name, phone, address, date of birth).

Medic52 servers are hosted with Amazon Web Services in the US and Australia, and are monitored regularly to ensure they are secure. In essence, Medic52 takes every precaution to protect the information you collect. Watch the video

If you want your data in another location, that’s not a problem, we can run servers in any AWS location, and you can even run your own server just for your data if you wish.

HOW IS PATROLLER WORKFLOW AFFECTED?

Medic52 Team supports every patroller around the clock. In preparing for patrolling, patrollers can check their schedule, the weather forecast, and travel conditions. Starting the day, the patroller can refresh knowledge of trail checks and other opening procedures to ensure each sign and fence are placed where they belong. Throughout the day, the patroller can keep sharp on mountain logistics and collaboration and communication with other patrollers using built-in features. As the work day wraps up, the patroller can review assigned and related sweep steps to ensure closing procedures are efficiently followed by all to wrap up the day.

Specifically for handling incidents, Medic52 recommends after a patroller, after arriving on scene and checking scene safety as usual, create the case in Medic52 Cases. This records the GPS location of the incident, and the time and date on scene. If possible, the patroller should take a second and snap a quick photo of the before putting the phone away to immediately attend to the guest’s need.

If the opportunity presents, the patroller can add more information at the scene.

HOW DO WE DEAL WITH SERIOUS INCIDENTS?

With Medic52 Cases features including the Vitals (Heart Rate, Respirations and Glasgow Coma Scale) available, patrollers now have a tool to record more than ever through the course of the incident. Importantly, this information can also be accurately and easily shared with the next level of care offering the industry an unprecedented continuum of care.

The scene manager is an ideal person to record data. Alternatively, anyone at the accident site can be asked to do nothing but look, listen, and record.

Medic52 will soon introduce new technology enabling this data to be automatically collected.

WHAT ABOUT CELL PHONE DATA CHARGES?

To keep data transfer costs to a minimum and patrollers within their cell phone carriers’ data plans, the Medic52 applications use bandwidth smartly.

In Medic52 Team, data are cached on the phone as much as possible, only going back to the server periodically to check for updates. This also enables as much information as possible to be available even when the patroller is on the backside or otherwise on a spot on the mountain with limited data network coverage.

In Medic52 Cases, there are similar optimizations to conserve bandwidth. Specifically, audio, video and photo files collected can chosen to be uploaded only when a WiFi connection is available for the device.

These optimizations ensure patrollers get the benefits of these advanced tools without significantly impacting their data plans.

DOESN’T THIS GET IN THE WAY OF PATIENT CARE?

Patient care is ALWAYS the number 1 priority. Medic52 has been developed to enhance the management process and should never be allowed to delay a patroller at the scene of an accident. Watch the video.

WHAT ABOUT BATTERY LIFE / THE COLD & WET?

Not all mountains have clear cell phone reception. In this instance the Medic52 app stores data on the device until it comes into range. Once the device is within an area of clear reception it will automatically synch with the server so that data can be transferred.

When working in an area where there is no clear signal, it will be necessary to use traditional methods to get assistance, such as going to the lift, or finding a passer by.

HOW ABOUT CELL/MOBILE PHONE RECEPTION AND SIGNAL?

Not every mountain has great cell phone reception, so we have built the Patroller apps to keep data on the device without any need for WiFi or cell signal. When the device does get signal, it will synch to the server.

For patients & customers, this means they will need to use older, more traditional methods to get help like going to the lift, or finding a passer by.

HOW DOES MY CUSTOMER TELL ME THEY NEED HELP?

Medic52 iOS and Android plugins enable resorts to install a button on their own resort application that customers can use to ask for help.

Our API also allows any authorised app to send in patient information and GPS coordinates, get your nerds to talk to our nerds to make this happen.

WHAT DO I NEED TO GET STARTED?

To install the Medic52 app, you’ll need an iOS or Android smartphone that meets our minimum requirements, then you can download the relevant app and get started.

We recommend Firefox or Google Chrome on a desktop PC or Mac for the web based dispatch system.

HOW DOES THE PRICING WORK?

We use the number of patroller days to calculate pricing, here is how you work that out:

(Paid patrollers * days per season) + (Volunteer patrollers * days per season) = Patroller days

When you upgrade to the paid version of a product, we work with you to agree on a number, this will then remain in place for the contract term, so if your patroller days change, the amount you pay won’t. We find this works best for the financial people who prefer it this way!

Note that if you are a volunteer patrol, and have no paid employees at your hill, the Medic52 Suite is at cost price regardless of your patrol size. There is some support time that is necessary for all customers (and we have to pay the server bills) so these costs must be covered for us to be able to deliver this product to you. We love to assist Volunteer’s but have to do this and work on the pricing at our discretion when we speak with you, depending on your circumstances.

Your payments are then spread out over a 12 month period, even if you don’t operate year round yet. If you do have summer operations – that’s great, there is no extra charge.  It also means you have access to the data year round, so you can do your reporting on those long summer nights with a cool beverage in your hand.

We thought about charging by usage (i.e. how many cases entered) but we think that’s a little morbid, and we want you to collect as much information as possible, even cases that turn out to be false calls, or the patient denied care. Thinking about budget when you should be thinking about work is not a Good Thing.

SMART PHONES ARE EXPENSIVE

Yes, they can be expensive, however Medic52 can be used in your organisation without them if necessary. We have clients that only use computers in their locations, this is fine and it works.

There can also be complications that force you down this route such as a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) strategy for your employees which can be tough especially when they are only seasonal.

Other options are to purchase a fleet of shared devices, like an iPod Touch that does not require a carrier subscription. You could also use an iPad in a shared location and take advantage of the fast user switching, so everyone can use the same device.

However we find the best implementations allow each user to have the app(s) on their own device. This affords many advantages such as doing the work whenever convenient (perhaps on a chairlift), and ownership of the device and data.