What communication requirements are there for participating hospitals with EMS?

• A. Hospitals must have a dedicated phone line for EMS pre-notification calls, a functioning MERCI radio, and a dedicated fax number or platform for EMS patient care reports.
• B. Hospitals must only respond to EMS during business hours.
• C. Hospitals must communicate via email for all transports.
• D. Hospitals must hold weekly conference calls with EMS.

Answer: (B)

The question tests what hospitals are required to do to participate in EMS communications. The stated requirement here is that hospitals must respond to EMS during business hours. This sets a baseline level of hospital–EMS coordination, focusing on when hospital staff are typically available to receive prehospital information and coordinate care.

The other options add specific tools or after-hours expectations (dedicated phone lines, MERCI radio, dedicated fax/portal, all-transport email, or weekly conference calls). These are more prescriptive or impractical in many systems and aren’t presented as mandatory in this item, so they aren’t the expected baseline requirement.

So, the answer reflects the minimal, widely applicable expectation: hospitals respond during business hours.