Applying Telehealth in Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters

Abstract

There are myriad telehealth applications for natural or anthropogenic disaster response. Telehealth technologies and methods have been demonstrated in a variety of real and simulated disasters. Telehealth is a force multiplier, providing medical and public health expertise at a distance, minimizing the logistic and safety issues associated with on-site care provision. Telehealth provides a virtual surge capacity, enabling physicians and other health professionals from around the world to assist overwhelmed local health and medical personnel with the increased demand for services postdisaster. There are several categories of telehealth applications in disaster response, including ambulatory/primary care, specialty consultation, remote monitoring, and triage, medical logistics, and transportation coordination. External expertise would be connected via existing telehealth networks in the disaster area or specially deployed telehealth systems in shelters or on-scene. This paper addresses the role of telehealth in disaster response and recommends a roadmap for its widespread use in preparing for and responding to natural and anthropogenic disasters.

Princípios de medicina de catástrofe em revisão a partir de Fukushima

“…A Telemedicina tem aplicações potenciais em cada etapa de uma gestão de catástrofe eficaz, desde a prevenção até à preparação, resposta e recuperação (S. Simmons et al, 2008), melhorando a cobertura de serviços de emergência (K. M. Zundel, 1996).…”

Clinically Informed Telemental Health in Post-Disaster Areas

“…Such disasters are frequently caused by human intent rather than by a natural event, and there is a high prevalence of injuries, threat to life, and loss of life." Similarly, Simmons et al found that "injuries are those caused by the disaster event and are dependent on the nature of the disaster" (Simmons et al, 2008). The New York City terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, is another example of a man-made disaster that had significant impact on the mental health of survivors.…”

“…Another report by Porcari et al (2009) looked at the use of telemental health for individuals with a history of trauma exposure and found that telemental health as delivered by videoteleconferencing (VTC) yielded comparable results to face-to-face methods in the assessment of PTSD, and patients expressed satisfaction with the VTC approach. Simmons et al (2008) examined the use of telehealth (telemental health) in natural and anthropogenic disasters and found that telehealth would play primarily a support role in the acute phase following a disaster and then continues to fill gaps in primary and specialty care, such as mental health. Taking a look more specifically at telemental health in natural or man-made emergencies and mass disasters, Yellowlees, Burke, Marks, Hilty, and Shore (2008) further noted that telepsychiatry can be especially useful in increasing access to psychiatric care for one-time clinical events and public health situations associated with mass disasters.…”

“…Though telemedicine has been implemented successfully in disaster relief, the potential of telemental health specifically has yet to be realized. Telemental health provides a virtual surge capacity, enabling mental health professionals from around the world to assist overwhelmed local health and medical personnel with the increased demand for services postdisaster (Simmons, Alverson, Poropatich, Di'Orio, & Doarn, 2008).…”

Medicina de catástrofe: de Fukushima para o mundo

“…A Telemedicina tem aplicações potenciais em cada etapa de uma gestão de catástrofe eficaz, desde a prevenção até à preparação, resposta e recuperação (Simmons et al, 2008), melhorando a cobertura de serviços de emergência (Zundel, 1996).…”