Start North vs EMS Protocol Reference
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Start North
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When dealing with a medical emergency, seconds matter. The Start North app lets hospital staff and emergency first responders to request a North Memorial Health Air Care helicopter at the touch of a button. The app immediately alerts our dispatch center and provides request details directly into the computer aided dispatch system. Our Start North app provides numerous features that allow users to: - Receive up-to-the-minute reports of our helicopter’s location displayed on a map, including estimated arrival time - View transport request data such as GPS location for scene calls or unit and room number information for inter-facility transports - Get timely, regular updates through push notifications - Review a hospital directory, searchable by name - Access our landing zone guide that provides key safety measures to prepare for the helicopter’s arrival Note: registration is required for all users. All registered users have access to the basic functions of this app. Only approved users can access the advanced app features, including the ability to request a helicopter transport.
EMS Protocol Reference
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EMS Protocol Guide helps you find the right statewide EMS protocol fast. Pick your state or region, your certification level (including Critical Care where the manual defines it), enter a short chief complaint or scenario, and get a structured summary with suggested protocols and links into the official protocol PDF—including medication appendix jumps scoped to your level when the hosted index supports it. What you get Official protocols — Opens the authority’s published manual; summaries are for reference only—always confirm in the PDF and follow medical direction. Multi-state support — Subscriptions can cover one state or multiple regions, depending on your plan. AI assistance — Uses on-device intelligence when available, or cloud when needed; scenario text may be processed by a third-party model. Do not include patient identifiers. History — Revisit recent summaries (where enabled for your account). Important This app is not affiliated with state protocol authorities unless stated. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or medications. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read or used in this app. This app is for reference and informational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose. Terms of service: https://www.respondersai.com/tos.html Privacy Policy: https://www.respondersai.com/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is device support: Start North at 3 against EMS Protocol Reference's 1. Start North also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Start North ships an update every 4 months, EMS Protocol Reference every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.
| Parameter | Start North | EMS Protocol Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Softtech, Incorporated. | RespondersAI LLC |
In-app purchases
Start North
No in-app purchases
EMS Protocol Reference
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Start North free?
Is EMS Protocol Reference free?
Do Start North or EMS Protocol Reference have ads?
Which is updated more often, Start North or EMS Protocol Reference?
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