Since 1998, COMCARE has brought together national safety leaders, hospitals, emergency medical services, emergency managers, state and local transportation departments, police, fire and rescue, citizen groups and the private sector in order to plan for and implement leading-edge technologies that will revolutionize emergency preparedness, response and recovery processes used for all hazards - mass casualty and day-to-day events.
2008
January
- HIMSS and COMCARE announced the formation of the Integrated Emergency Medical Response Initiative Advisory Board. The twelve member board will guide the strategic plans of the COMCARE/HIMSS project to connect health information technology with emergency response applications. The creation of the Advisory Board marks an important step towards improved information sharing about victims and their care.
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2007
December
- COMCARE publicly unveiled its “Informed Emergency Response” video presentation. The short video, available on COMCARE’s website (make “website” a link to the video) or on DVD, outlined COMCARE’s vision for the future of emergency response: one in which emergency information can be exchanged across domains and jurisdictions and enriched by external data sources, facilitating the flow of information from 9-1-1 to EMS to hospitals.
November
- A HIMSS/COMCARE panel presented at the HIMSS Virtual Conference in November. The panel presentation entitled “Enhancing Emergency Response through Health IT” was moderated by COMCARE staff as well as emergency medical professionals. COMCARE also hosted a virtual booth where attendees could learn more about integrated emergency medical response. The conference was attended by more than 1,600 people and featured more than 20 vendor participants.
October
- COMCARE and the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) announced a partnership to extend the use of emergency medical records (EMRs) into emergency response processes.
- COMCARE Emergency Response Alliance, the Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc. (OGC), the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) jointly announced they will conduct a Core Services Initiative to significantly improve interoperable, inter-organizational communications and information sharing for emergency preparedness, response and recovery.
September
- COMCARE and other National Safety Partners wrote a formal letter to DHS’ Disaster Management Program Manager Denis Gusty, calling on DHS DM to lead the development of a next generation emergency data standardization project that would facilitate the exchange of data from a wide variety of emergency information sources.
- COMCARE joined with FEMA, IAEM, the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools, and Wal-Mart in hosting a webinar to promote National Preparedness Month. The webinar, open to the public, was attended by over 50 representatives from the emergency response community, the government, and public and private industry.
August 2007
- For the fourth straight year, COMCARE attended the Public Health Information Network (PHIN) conference in Atlanta. The conference emphasized the need for developing a strong business case for implementing modern information systems.
July 2007
- COMCARE hosts a booth at the E9-1-1 Technology Fair on Capitol Hill.
June 2007
- COMCARE and the American Red Cross co-host informative Webinars in which representatives from emergency response agencies championed the use of Radio-over-internet-Protocol (RoIP) as an interoperability solution.
- At the NENA Annual Conference, COMCARE and a panel of experts present COMCARE's vision for informed emergency response.
May 2007
- At the DHS Science and Technology Conference, COMCARE hosts an Interoperability Pavilion showcasing Radio over Internet Prot
 ocol, Data Messaging, and Core Services. In addition, COMCARE, the American Red Cross and NENA host Informational Briefings on informed emergency response for federal officials. More
April 2007
- COMCARE receives funding from the Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers for the Vehicle Rescue website which will connect emergency responders and the automotive industry.
March 2007
- With National Science Foundation sponsorship, COMCARE and the National Partnership co-host the Educational Programs for Emergency Services Technology Conference to develop recommendations to develop human capital at the intersection of emergency services and technology. More
- COMCARE, the American Red Cross, and the NCOIC co-host the Interoperability for Informed Emergency Response Conference and Hill Demonstration, sponsored by Chairman Joseph Lieberman and the Senate Homeland Security Committee. More
- Judith Woodhall published a white paper heralding the need for technology enabled process transformation for emergency services.
January 2007
- COMCARE Director David Aylward and Clark Kent Ervin, Director of the Homeland Security Initiative at the Aspen Institute, publish a white paper titled “Next Generational Inter-Organizational Emergency Communications: Making Tangible Progress While Broader Efforts Continue,”
- COMCARE organizes a roundtable discussion titled “Moving Beyond Red Asphalt: Your Car Could Save Your Life.” Experts from heart and brain trauma professions, the automotive industry, and 9-1-1 groups highlight the benefits that can be derived from using consumer telematics data.
- COMCARE moderates a strategy meeting for interoperable communications bringing together experts and thought leaders dedicated to the adoption of policies necessary to deploy modern all hazards emergency response system.
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2006
December 2006
- COMCARE hosts a booth at the E9-1-1 Institute Tech Fair information on COMCARE initiatives such as EPAD and NEARS.
November 2006
- Over 25 organizations representing different interests and user communities participate in COMCARE’s roundtable, entitled “Emergencies: Similar Problems, Common Solutions?”, to create a united front for advocating solutions to common emergency communications problems.
October 2006
- COMCARE submitted comments on the Emergency Response Electronic Health Record Use Case on behalf of its members and IPTI participants to the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
September 2006
August 2006
June 2006
- COMCARE Director David Aylward presents at the U.S. Coast Guard Innovation Exposition and calls the Coast Guard “uniquely qualified” to take on a leadership role to solve interoperability issues for both public warning and interagency messaging.
May 2006
April 2006
January 2006
- The Emergency Interoperability Consortium (EIC) and COMCARE submit the Hospital AVailability Exchange (HAVE) data standard draft to the OASIS Emergency Management Technical Committee for review.
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2005
December 2005
November 2005
- COMCARE, the Emergency Interoperability Consortium (EIC), and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) host an interoperability pavilion featuring scenario based information exchange across disparate technologies.
August 2005
- COMCARE is awarded a contract by the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer (DC OCTO) to provide an inventory and gap analysis of the emergency interoperability capabilities in the National Capitol Region.
- With the participation of thirty-six emergency response and healthcare organizations, COMCARE and the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) launch a collaborative Working Group to explore how an integrated patient tracking system can improve emergency response for day-to-day events and mass casualty incidents.
July 2005
- COMCARE Chair Richard Taylor testifies before the Senate's subcommittee on Disaster Prediction and Prevention.
June 2005
- NEARS Partners and Supporting Organizations and the E9-1-1 Institute conduct a live demonstration of the E–Safety Network technology on Capitol Hill.
March 2005
- COMCARE and its sixteen national emergency response partners launch the NEARS Initiative.
- More than 85 emergency response agencies in 25 states demonstrate the tools of 20 emergency technology providers engaging in a demonstration of interoperable emergency messaging using EPAD.
- E9-1-1 Institute for outstanding actions and service in emergency response recognizes two COMCARE members – Orange County Florida Fire Communications Center and the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board.
February 2005
- Several members of the Emergency Interoperability Consortium (EIC), including COMCARE, receive Department of Homeland Security awards for providing outstanding leadership in emergency data interoperability, including participating in the first use of the Emergency Data Exchange Language (EDXL).
January 2005
- General Motors announces that OnStar will be provided as standard equipment on all of its cars. COMCARE’s emergency medical response members enthusiastically praise the decision.
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2004
December 2004
- COMCARE founding Chair, Sue Hoyt, stepsdown after seven years and the Boardunanimously elects Richard Taylor to fill the position.
October 2004
- In association with the Department of Homeland Security Disaster Management Initiative, COMCARE, EIC, and The George Washington University's Homeland Security Policy Institute hold an Emergency Data Interoperability Demonstration.
August 2004
- COMCARE wins contract from the Department of Homeland Security Disaster Management e-Gov Initiative to develop data standards.
July 2004
June 2004
- "Topics in Emergency Medicine" publishes entire issue on "Emergency Communications Systems," edited by COMCARE Directors.
- Public and private alliances in three states submit E-Safety Network proposals to the Department of Homeland Security in response to its call for innovative interoperability system plans.
May 2004
- COMCARE holds a Pre-Request for Proposal Briefing, providing an overview of EPAD to more than 50 technology companies.
April 2004
March 2004
- Emergency response leaders and COMCARE conduct an EPAD trial in the Pacific Northwest to demonstrate rapid Internet-based inter-agency messaging.
- COMCARE and the Emergency Interoperability Consortium (EIC) host the Interoperability Now! Workshop - an all-day event discussing the importance of interoperability in emergency communications.
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2003
December 2003
October 2003
- The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association participates in a statewide bioterrorism drill and uses the E-Safety Network to enhance its members' communication and resource coordination efforts.
September 2003
- COMCARE and member organization Qualcomm participate in a demonstration that involves sharing information about a terrorist attack at the Global Homeland Security Weapons of Mass Destruction Conference in St. Louis, MO. COMCARE's portion of the demonstration shows how the E-Safety Network, enabled by its member organizations, works.
- COMCARE receives a grant from the Department of Justice, with leadership from Senator Conrad Burns, to fund the creation of the GIS based directory of emergency response agencies known as EPAD.
July 2003
- The prototype of EPAD is developed and used in a number of demonstrations and field trials.
January to September 2003
- Virginia emergency leaders engage in multiple trials and demonstrations of the E-Safety Network, including a smallpox attack, and a multiple disaster drill.
January 2003
- COMCARE members work together to conduct a bio-terrorism field exercise in northwestern Virginia using the E-Safety Network, which is noted as, "a far more efficient and integrated response system than we've ever had before," according to Dr. Jack Potter of Valley Health System.
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2002
November 2002
July 2002
- COMCARE member OnStar announces it will begin deploying telematics systems with Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) in 2003.
June 2002
- COMCARE and the Institute for
 International Research host the "E-Safety Conference: Making America Safer," bringing together national representatives from the emergency response and private sectors to discuss America's emergency communications infrastructure.
April 2002
- COMCARE co-sponsors a congressional briefing with the National Association of EMS Physicians, Association of Air Medical Services and the Partnership for Community Safety to discuss medical communications needs, present the E-Safety Program, and describe its use in bio-terrorism situations.
March 2002
- COMCARE Counsel testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications. Later in the month, COMCARE presents the E-Safety Program to the District of Columbia City Council.
February 2002
- COMCARE holds a daylong meeting in Washington State to raise awareness and understanding of emergency management and response.
January 2002
- COMCARE publicly announces the E-Safety Program which focuses on eight keys to interoperable information sharing.
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2001
December 2001
November 2001
- Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) and COMCARE's medical leaders kick off a demonstration of integrated information systems using COMCARE open architecture.
Fall 2001
- 80th organization joins COMCARE. Following 9/11, a diverse COMCARE task force launches an effort to develop the E-Safety Program.
July 2001
- With Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) Sam Brownback (R-KS), and Congressmen Charles Pickering (R-MS) and Albert Wynn (D-MD), the Congressional Wireless Caucus and the wireless industry, COMCARE hosts the 2001 Wireless Safety Technology Demonstration on Capitol Hill.
Spring 2001
- COMCARE publishes and circulates descriptions of E-Safety open network, standards-based Internet Protocol architecture.
January 2001
- COMCARE begins integrated system planning and deployment efforts in various states. COMCARE's Safety Technology Integration Committee works with member companies and organizations to implement National Mayday Readiness Initiative (NMRI) recommendations.
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2000
October 2000
- NMRI yields a lengthy analysis and detailed set of recommendations.
July 2000
- Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater announces the National Mayday Readiness Initiative (NMRI), a public-private effort of more than 30 organizations to address the policy and operations issues raised by the interaction of the private telematics industry, with the public emergency response system. COMCARE co-sponsors NMRI with USDOT.
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1999
October 1999
- COMCARE and other public safety groups use extensive grassroots efforts to win the passage of WiCAPS 1999.
May 1999
- COMCARE, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), USDOT and ITS America sponsor the first conference bringing together a wide diversity of parties to discuss integrating emergency and transportation communications systems.
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1998
Spring 1998
February 1998
- Public safety, industry and government leaders announce the formation of COMCARE. Participants include: Sue Hoyt, past-President, Emergency Nurses Association (ENA); Dr. Ric Martinez, Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Dr. Richard Hunt, American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP); Robert Miller, Director, State of New Jersey 9-1-1 Program; David Aylward, President, National Strategies, and Thomas Wheeler, President, Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA).
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