The Jersey City Medical Center’s Emergency Medical Services recently updated its dispatch communications technology to allow for quicker response times and protection against emergency-related outages.

The state-of-the-art Sentinel 4.2 system, designed to accept and use next-generation 911 (NG9-1-1), will replace the JCMC’s 25-year-old dispatch communications technology. When implemented, NG9-1-1 will allow the public to submit information about emergency situations via text, images, videos and other data directly to 911 call centers.

“Next-generation 911 will give first responders more information about emergencies and help save more lives,” said Dennis Patrisso, communications manager for Hudson County Communications Emergency Network (HUDCEN).

Patrisso said that the new technology integrates the multiple ways that people communicate in today’s world to create a more efficient system.

The new Sentinel system uses Internet Protocol (IP) technology, allowing 911 calls to be answered from a remote site in the event of an emergency or outage at the dispatch center. It also streamlines the process of taking calls, allowing for expedited emergency response.