WN4HRT

The Healthcare Emergency Amateur Radio Team (HEART) was developed in conjunction with the Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition (EVHC) partners with equipment purchased through a federal grant to provide emergency communications for participating healthcare facilities in the event of a catastrophic communications failure.

The team will be activated in advance of a weather-related event or other potential catastrophe by the individual healthcare facility. In the event that the facility experiences an
internal or external communications failure the team can provide inter-facility communications and serve as a relay point to either the Regional Healthcare Coordination Center (RHCC) or the facility’s local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) using the amateur radio system.

The Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition (EVHC) is seeking licensed, volunteer amateur radio operators to become members of HEART. As a volunteer amateur radio operator you would be providing one of the region's hospitals, or other healthcare facilities, with Amateur Radio Communications in times of an emergency or disaster. HEART members also participate in nets, drills, exercises and monthly radio testing. Each facility is equipped with the same preprogrammed radio, power supply, SWR meter, TNC controller and installed antenna.

What? You are interested but don't have an amateur radio license? Call us! We can provide training and mentoring to help you obtain your amateur radio license.

Contact either Ira or Paula Swartz, HEART Communications Specialists, by phone at (757)497-7769 or by email at imsaem@verizon.net for more information about volunteering for the HEART Program.